7/12/07
Now’s the time to enjoy some sheepshead fishing
By Terry Madewell

Terry Madewell Photo

Dakota Deaton seems pretty pleased with his sheepshead catch, caught by fishing the rocks of a jetty near Charleston.

One of the big advantages to living in our area is that for saltwater fishing opportunities, is just a short drive to the coast. We can be in the Charleston or Georgetown area within a short drive time and there are outstanding fishing opportunities in both places for inshore saltwater fish species.

In addition, standard freshwater fishing tackle works just great on many of these species. One of particular interest is the sheepshead. The sheepshead is a highly underrated fish that is found in big numbers, comes in good sizes and fights hard.

Plus they’re outstanding on the table. Best of all, they’re biting like crazy right now.

Currently, the area around the Charleston Harbor and north to Bulls Bay are prime sheepshead fishing targets.

One of the keys to catching sheepshead is detecting their ultra-light bite. According to some experts, the best bait to use is china-back fiddler crabs. During warm weather, these crabs can be caught along the sandy and shell beaches of the waterway.

Sheepsheads are well suited with their teeth to crush the fiddler and inhale the guts of the crab, often without the angler knowing they’ve had a bite. Hook the crab on the hook and lower it to a potential sheepshead’s hiding place.

Then, according to one expert sheepshead fisherman, you’ve got to set the hook just before the fish bites. I realize that’s not possible, but it’s the best way I can communicate how light the bite usually is. Typically there will be just a very gentle tug on the tip of the rod, actually just a heavy feeling, more so than an actual bite.

When that heavy feeling on the rod tip first occurs, you’d better be setting the hook right then or you’ll be reeling in an empty hook or just the shell of a fiddler crab with its guts gone.

I really enjoy fishing for them because there are a lot of different types of places they can be found throughout the summer and fall. Almost any type of permanent structure has the potential to attract and hold sheepshead. If a fisherman has a good game plan and is persistent, sheepshead are a species you can usually figure out and bring home a really good catch. Plus, you do not need a lot of fancy equipment to be successful.

Local Charleston anglers said that the boat docks, wooden pilings, rocks around bridges, underwater rock piles and even sunken boats or other debris are all potentially excellent sheepshead hotspots.

These are typical spots found along the Intracoastal Waterway and in the feeder creeks and rivers, but there are other excellent sheepshead hotspots as well.

The jetties in the Charleston Harbor are one of the most consistent producers throughout the summer and fall. Both the north and south jetties will produce excellent results.

When fishing the jetties, the stage of the tide is everything. Whether the tide is high or low, you can catch fish, but the hotspots will change.

One expert said that usually for about an hour on either side of the high tide, he likes to fish places where the water is actually crashing over the top of the jetties. The wave action will keep things stirred up to the point the fish will have plenty to feed on. It puts them in a real bite mode, he said.

There will be places along the jetties that are just at the right level where the water will be crashing over the rocks. He advised to anchor the boat so you can fish right in these areas. There are a couple of different ways to fish in this situation. One is to tightline straight down and get into the holes between the rocks. I’ll use a 1/0 hook with about one-quarter to one-half ounce of weight if the current is strong. More or less weight may be needed depending on how hard the tide is pulling. You need enough weight to maintain the feel of the bait or the fish will steal your bait every time.

When you feel that heavy feeling, set the hook. Often you can catch a bunch of fish from the same spot. But when the action slows, move around the boat dropping the rig into different spots. Sometimes several more sheepshead can be caught by simply moving to the other side of the boat.

Another method is to use less weight and cast the fiddler crab away from the boat and let it bump along the bottom.

This method requires a bit more touch. It does allow you to cover much more territory without having to move and re-anchor the boat. First, you need to be able to manipulate the rigs just across the rocks so it doesn’t snag too often.

At mid-tide and down to low tide, focus your efforts on the bottom of the jetties where the rock pile stops. Fish in the holes created by the piled up boulders, but the bottom where the rocks end and the flat begins is also a real sweet spot for finding sheepshead.

While other baits such as shrimp will produce sheepshead action, most sheepshead fishermen strictly fish with fiddler crabs. You can target sheepshead better with the fiddlers. When using shrimp, there are scads of other fish that will usually bite before a sheepshead gets a chance.

Most diehard sheepshead anglers prefer to catch their own fiddlers, but some bait and tackle shops around Charleston are now offering fiddlers for sale. If you’ve never fished for sheepshead and never caught fiddlers for bait this may be the best way to get started. Odds are good you’ll want to give this sport a try.

Current regulations on sheepshead specify a limit of 20 sheepshead per person, per day. There is no minimum length restriction.

If you are fishing for multiple species along with sheepshead, the rules get more complicated. If catching sheepshead along with spadefish, there is a limit of 20 in aggregate and this total will includes other fish as well. To be on the safe side check the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Rules and Regulation book carefully.

But enjoy the fantastic sheepshead fishing right now.