Sheepshead part6

Natural Baits for Sheepshead

Sheepshead have excellent vision and a strong sense of smell. That is why natural baits are the way to go when targeting sheepshead. They are not easily fooled by artificial baits, and can spot the slightest piece of hook or lead weight, which is often quite visible on an artificial lure.

The Best Baits for Sheepshead

Finding natural bait for sheepshead is easy – practically any shelled critter in saltwater will work fine. Of course, some types of bait work better than others, and can be found in the wild or purchased in a local bait shop.Fiddler Crabs

Fiddler crabs are in my opinion the number one sheepshead bait. There are three species of fiddler crab in Florida, and all can be found within the estuarine shorelines where the sand or mud substrate meets the water. Look for hundreds of small penny-sized holes, and hundreds more crabs to locate a colony. These small crabs can be captured by hand (quite exciting), or more skillfully directed into a bucket on its side using two 2’x4’s to guide the crabs into the bucket. Fiddler crabs are easy to capture in all seasons, but will not be active in the winter until mid-day, and will otherwise be deep in their burrows.

Shrimp

A close second, shrimp are nearly as effective – on some days even more effective – as fiddler crabs, but are easier to find, fresh or frozen. Buy live shrimp, or very freshly frozen, and cut into small ½ to 1-inch pieces.

Mussels

Mussels are part of the sheepshead’s natural diet, naturally found attached to substrates such as dock pilings, seawalls, piers or oyster reefs. The meat of a mussel gives off an attractive odor to sheepshead and is effective whether freshly collected and shucked, or purchased frozen.

Clams

Clams are a major part of the natural diet of sheepshead. Taking the meat out of the shell saves the sheepshead time and energy, and gives off a strong scent. Clams can be found by searching for their trails in soft sediments in shallow estuarine waters, or can be purchased frozen. Clam meat tends to stay on a hook better than that of other bivalves such as mussels and oysters.

Oysters

Small oysters are also part of the natural sheepshead diet. Oysters can be found in brackish waters across the state, but are much easier to purchase frozen as bait. The reason for this is that oyster reefs can be extremely dangerous, as each shell is as sharp as a knife – one misstep and you are going to need a trip to the emergency room.

Sand Fleas

Most commonly used for pompano, sand fleas aka “mole crabs,” are an excellent choice for sheepshead. Sand fleas live in the surf zone along most Florida beaches. They can be seen swimming back to the water after each wave, leaving a fast trail behind them. Many sand flea rakes are sold in tackle shops to capture these small crabs, or simply use your hands to filter the sand as the water and sand retreat after a large wave. You can also usually find frozen sand fleas wherever bait is sold.

Other Baits that Will Catch Sheepshead

Essentially any marine-dwelling crustacean or bivalve you can get your hands on will attract the bite of a sheepshead. There are several species of crab that work well – blue crabs, mud crabs, and mangrove tree crabs just to name a few – and using any at a small size will produce bites. Every species has a “preferred” diet, but most of them are opportunistic predators. So if you happen to spot a sheepshead below the pier, and you only have a few mullet in your livewell, cut the fish into small pieces, throw it on a small hook, and if the fish is hungry, you may get the bite.