TIME TO GO CATCH SOME CONVICTS OF THE GULF COAST
February along the Citrus County coast is one of the best times of the whole year to "count some sheepies (sheepshead) in" to your angling adventures. This is the allotment when the biggies come in and congregate to spawn, because of the favorable water temps to them of 60 to 65 degrees.
These bait stealing, black and white striped (hence the name, convict fish) fish are members of the porgy family and are excellent table fare mainly in part to their crustacean diet of shrimp, fiddler crabs, barnacles, sand fleas and clams.
If you have some favorite rocks a little offshore to try in around 6' to 12' of water, you may not want to count the sheepies out just yet. If you don't have those nearshore rock numbers, you can prowl around most any oyster bar, residential canal, bridge pilings, rocky seawalls, or rocky point and usually find some.
Other guides may have their preferred method, however here is my sheepshead recipe for tackle setup that is pretty simple and has been extremely effective for me.
Light tackle spinning gear. Braided line is a reeeel good advantage, because you can feel em looking at it. (Remember, these fish don't have the membrane around their lips like some other species), they have a set of teeth that resemble a sheep. And then the teeth go to the jaw. So having line with little or no stretch, gives you that edge to set the hook better, plus feel the nibble. And it's also the reason they're good bait stealers, because they kind of knaw at the offering with their teeth. (Good for taking barnacles and such off pilings.)
Back to the tackle. Tie on a barrel swivel to your running line. (keeps from twisting line). Tie on a 2' or 3' section of 15lb. florocarbon leader. (invisibility,and abrasion resistant). Tie onto that a Mustad #34011, #1 or similar hook. I don't like anything too big. They'll pick ya clean for sure. And nothing too small or wimpy either, cause I like to drive it home through they're jaw. Pinch you on a piece of splitshot the size for your depth. Too heavy, and it finds every rock and oyster to snag. Too light, with deeper water, and it just drifts out of the strike zone.
That's about it, tear you off a piece of shrimp, (ususally into thirds,) and thread him on, and be on your best guard. You think he's looking at it……….set the hook! You get the idea. In shallower water, say, 3' to 4', we've even utilized a cork to keep it off the bottom and from snagging, and caught em that way over rocky areas. While the water is cold, give it a try. BTW, The Homosassa area holds the state record for the sheepshead of 15 lbs. 2 ounces. Hmmm, wonder why? It wouldn't be because we're blessed with all the oyster bars and limerock outcroppings that make good breeding grounds for em, would it?
When it begins to stay warm, let's get back to the trout and reds! Remember, trout season is closed in February along the Citrus County coast, so go catch ya a convict.
Be safe, and good fishing……….>Capt. Rick
