This is the time to target sheepshead on our inshore fishing charters. For the next month these fish will be doing their annual spawn. These fish are around bridge pilings, docks, rock piles, and artificial reefs throughout Tampa Bay. These fish are a good target on our fishing charters this time of year because they need to eat extra to have energy for their spawn and there is a lot of them around. Sheepshead put up a strong fight once hooked but the main attraction for catching these fish is that they are very good eating. Some people claim the sheepshead to be the “poor man’s lobster” because it has a very similar taste to the Florida spiny lobster. The consistency of the fillets is mild flakey white fish and has a somewhat sweet taste to it, making it similar to lobster. The size limit for sheepshead is 12” minimum with a bag limit of 8 per person. Some of the best baits to use are shrimp and fiddler crabs. We make sure to have plenty of bait on our fishing charters because these fish can be hard to hook. Their mouths are tough and have teeth that make it hard to set the hook when you feel the bite. We usually use 25lb leader and a ¼ ounce split shot up to a whole ounce of weight and either a #1 or 1/0 J hook for our terminal tackle. Lighter weight and lighter leader for shallower water and heavier weight in deeper water or when the tide is moving swiftly.  We use the lightest leader we can in order to get the bites but also have a good chance of not breaking off on the structure. We always have shrimp to target these fish and fiddler crabs when available. These fish do not mind the cooler water temps this time or year which makes them a good fish to target around the cold fronts. By catch includes imperial snapper (Key West grunts), gag groupers (out of season), some mangrove snapper, and also black sea bass which are all excellent eating.

I like to target sheepshead this time of year on our half day fishing charters. On the days that weather allows we can run out a couple miles into the Gulf of Mexico and bottom fish for sheepshead along with the imperial snappers, mangrove & lane snappers, and elusive hogfish. All of these fish are delicious to eat and a trip out to the Gulf yields good numbers of keeper fish for a couple fresh fish meals or for a fish fry with family and friends.

If you like to eat fish this is one of the best times of year to fill up a cooler of tasty fish. To book your fishing charters give me a call or text 813-220-8725. I am based in Bradenton/Anna Maria Island area which is just a short drive from Tampa or Sarasota. I am flexible with meeting locations. I look forward to getting you out on the water to experience some of the best fishing Florida has to offer and make some lifelong memories!