I’d rather swing and miss than bring up an empty hook over and over again. The diet of a sheepshead consists not only of barnacles and mussels, but also fiddler crabs, blue crabs, hermit crabs, mud crabs, shrimp, clams, and sand fleas. Watermark theme. I hook the mole crabs through the apron (small flap on the underside) and send the barb through the top. Two years later, the bite was mostly during incoming tide at shallower depths, just 10 to 12 feet down from the water surface in at least 27 feet or more of water. A six-foot, six-inch rod is good, but longer rod length of over seven feet can also serve as an asset by increasing your reach when fishing pilings from a boat.
How to Catch Sheepshead and Spades (CBBT Aug 2018) - YouTube Fiddlers can either be caught in the marsh or bought at most tackle/bait shops in the area. A Carolina rig with a #1 hook seems to work well as it generally places the bait down near the bottom where most of the sheepshead hang out. Although they are excellent table fare, I urge you to consider releasing trophy size sheepsheads (24” and above) since we would all like to see the specie thrive for a long time. While I can’t promise you the “perfect” formula for catching a Sheepshead spawn in various places including the mouths of channel passes and jetties. Anglers seeking sheepshead prefer a medium-stout 6 to 7-foot rod and a reel with 15 to 20 lb.
The bite is hard to explain. Once the eggs are released, they float near the surface and hatch within a day or two (24 to 40 hours). There's a citation-class sheepie I have a rendezvous with in the near future. I'll save the big claws just in case I run out of fiddlers. It’s also less frightening when fishing a boat near the pilings. The CBBT bridge structures along with the rock islands tend to hold the biggest convicts. My rig of choice is a dropper loop about 10” to 16” above a 2-6 ounce sinker. Kayakers who know what to look for can take advantage of the world class sheepshead fishery that is the Chesapeake Bay. braided line. As the water continues to warm, then the sheep bite will finally pick up and you will start to see more consistent action. The CBBT bridge structures along with the rock islands tend to hold the biggest convicts. If you’re fishing around a piling and it starts taking you around the structure; as soon as you feel your line rubbing the piling put your reel in free spool and paddle through then engage again. So a good baseline temp to start targeting them in the Bay is about 75 degrees.If you look for areas that have barnacles, the sheep are going to be close by. Starting in mid June through late October, Sheepshead can be found on most structures in the Chesapeake Bay. This causes a further increase in pressure — now, try setting the hook. When it starts to crush the bait, a tiny increase in pressure is felt. Then push the hook up puncturing the middle of the top shell of the crab. This rig would be good for suspended fish in my opinion.
Keep in mind the sheep will bite towards the side that the larger claw is located on to get the sweet meat, or to attempt to grab the claw only, so having the hook on that side with the claw (although it can be tricky to not get nipped when inserting it) will be to your advantage. My main line is 40-50lb braid which is spooled up on a quality baitcaster with tight and smooth drag.
A sheep bite is unique and the angler may not even feel the fish taking the bait. Knowledge is power thanks for being the teacher!Nice write up Rob, I hope to get to the CBBT soon and get my first sheep/spade/trigger and from what i hear lately....big nastiesThank you. Investigate this on multiple pilings, before coming to a conclusion. Using a Carolina rig is ideal for fishing multiple depths easily, especially when fishing the pilings. When fishing in thick structure, there’s a good chance you will go through several rigs. Another rig people seem to like is a carolina rig style set up with a 2-4 ounce egg sinker over a swivel to a foot or foot and a half of flourocarbon leader to hook. For example, on Monday they may be feeding 10 feet below the surface on mostly Oceanside pilings, but then on Friday they may prefer the Bay-side pilings at five feet from the bottom. A musky-style rod with IM-6 graphite construction helps in giving extra sensitivity and durability. They have also been known to hang underneath schools of spadefish as well. Clearly, these fish like to mix it up — so most of all, don’t be afraid to mix it up yourself, and let the Sheep herding begin! The easiest way to investigate the water column is to drop your line to the bottom and slowly work your way back up to the top by cranking a little; then stop and wait; then crank some more stop and wait until you find the depth they are feeding. Sometimes you’ll just feel a sudden weight on the other end without even feeling a bite. In the mean time, for beginners, I’d suggest to go ahead and swing if you think there was a bite. So where would you find a sheepshead in the Chesapeake Bay?