Sheepshead are a popular saltwater fish that are found in various inshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. You can find them in South America in countries like Brazil, but they’re most common in the Gulf of Mexico near the southeast of the United States.
These fish are known for a couple of things, but mainly their rows of human-like teeth! These come in handy for them, as they use them to crush their prey. Which, in fact, is what I’m here to talk to you about today.
While Sheepshead are easy to catch, you still need to know how to outwit them. And that all starts with your choice of Sheepshead bait. Read on to find out what weapons you need in your arsenal!
Sheepshead Bait Basics
Before I dive into all the specific baits for Sheepshead fishing, I want to give some insight on the general requirements when it comes to catching one.
Sheepshead live in inshore waters. They spend their time picking around rocks and sand in search of food. They also like to stay close to structure in case they need to take shelter. A few key areas you may find them include mangrove islands, piers, docks, jetties, reefs, wrecks, and really anywhere that has good surrounding structure.
Incoming and outgoing tides get them fired up. Stronger currents kick up the sand, bringing up mollusks and crustaceans that Sheepshead feed on. They also push out more bait, exposing them to hungry Sheepshead.
Younger Sheepshead mainly crave mollusks, while older Sheepshead aren’t as picky. In any case, you need to have tiny bait on small hooks, such as 1/0. If it’s too big, they’ll just pick at it rather than take the whole bait.
When you have smaller hooks and bait, let your bait sit out right in front of structure. When you see or feel them biting, give them a bit of time so you ensure they have taken the whole meat. Once you feel your line pull away, you know they have the hook in their mouth, and you can hookset.
It’s beneficial to have your line sit out in a light current. This will give the fish the sense of a bait that’s pushed out from the force. It gets them fired up and ready to take your bait.
Best Sheepshead Baits
Now it’s time to dive into the specifics of baits. There are numerous live and artificial baits that capture the attention of these fish, which brings you one step closer to successfully catching a Sheepshead…
Live Bait
For live bait, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. It’s best to use a sinker to get your bait to head down where the Sheepshead are hanging out. A 1/4 oz sinker is the perfect choice. And, if there’s a strong current, you can always increase the size of the sinker
Small Crabs
Fiddler crabs are a popular crab option for Sheepshead bait. That’s because they run on the smaller side and are easier for Sheepshead to break up. When using these guys, hook them on the side of the shell and be careful not to penetrate further because you could kill them. It’s better to use them when they’re lively, as they further capture the Sheepshead’s attention then.
Sand Fleas
Similar to crabs, sand fleas also offer another crunchy meal for Sheepshead. They’re also a good size for Sheepshead’s smaller mouths. You can find these critters along beaches in the moist sand. You can even purchase a scooping tool to easily gather them up.
Barnacles
Barnacles are another favorite of Sheepshead. You can usually find the fish picking at them around docks, piers, and jetties. Barnacles can be scraped off and used as chum, but you can also get a smaller piece to place on your hook.
Shrimp
Shrimp is a common bait for Sheepshead, but there’s one con of using these crustaceans. If you leave them hanging off the hook, Sheepshead can just pull them off and not even touch the hook. It’s best to use smaller ones or cut bigger ones into pieces where the fish will need to bite the hook in order to get to their prey.
Clams
Clams are another tasty snack for Sheepshead and can be rigged through their shell. Hungry Sheepshead will head over to crunch them down and take a bite where the hook is.
Mussels
You can use mussels for Sheepshead although they might not be the top choice. If you’re allowed, you can find some near jetties or structures during a low tide. Some bait shops sell them as well. It can be tricky to get them to stay on the hook though, so some anglers recommend using an elastic miracle thread.
Artificial Bait
Now that I’ve talked about various live bait options, I’ll share some of the best artificial baits for Sheepshead. For all the ones mentioned, just keep in mind you’ll want to use the smaller-sized versions.
- Artificial Crabs. As fiddler crabs are probably the best option for live bait, the same goes for artificial fishing. These soft lures imitate crabs with realistic-looking bodies and legs. They also shimmer with eye-catching colors.
- Artificial Shrimp. Similar to artificial crabs, these lures also resemble real-looking shrimp with all the details. Gulp! and D.O.A make some great ones!
- Soft Plastics/Swim Baits and Jig Heads. This is a popular method for getting Sheepshead to bite, but you need to make sure your hook and lure are on the smaller size. Anything too big will be hard for them to bite fully.
- Crankbaits. Small crankbaits are also inviting to Sheepshead as they make movement and sounds. Their attention-grabbing colors are another plus in trying to lure the fish in.
Flies
There are plenty of saltwater flies for getting Sheepshead to bite. You’ll want to use a wet fly as these sink to the bottom. These are great because they’re micro-sized and perfect for fitting in the mouth of a Sheepshead. You could even try to use a fly on a non-fly fishing setup, but it may not be as easy.
For both methods, it’s important to keep in mind that Sheepshead tend to get sketched out by gear. Because they aren’t tough fighters, you don’t really need to go above 25 pounds on your leader. Keep it light so they can’t point it out. The same goes for hooks, including artificial lures as well. You want to make it seem as little sketchy as possible so you don’t scare them off.
Sheepshead Fishing Baits: Your Tool for a Great Fishing Experience
Sheepshead fishing is fun for everyone! It’s not too difficult, you don’t have to search around long and far to locate them, and when you have the right tools, you can bring them up in no time. You can fish for these guys on land or on a boat, so the possibilities are endless.
If you’re interested in Sheepshead fishing, check out our in-depth guide. And remember, there are hundreds of guides in areas across the country that can take you on a trip to land Sheepshead. What are you waiting for? Get out there and put my advice to the test!
Have you ever been Sheepshead fishing? What bait did you find most effective? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
