Sheepshead part7

        Photo courtesy of Yissel & DOA

Artificial Lures for Catching Sheepshead

Although not as common of a technique as live bait, using artificial baits for sheepshead can be very rewarding if done successfully. Artificial lures range from small soft baits to sinking flies, and can be a day-saver when fish are spotted without the proper live baits on hand. The key to using artificial baits for sheepshead is to use them as if they were actually live baits. You can use them in any similar situation, including casting near oyster reefs, on the grass flats, and near docks and other pilings. When on the bridges and piers, a small soft bait crab can be very effective, especially if the fish are first chummed up with crushed barnacles into a feeding frenzy.

Lures for Catching Sheepshead

As a general rule, a good lure imitates the natural diet of the fish. The only lures that work moderately well for sheepshead include those imitating its natural prey. The key is to stay small, as the mouth of a sheepshead is very small for its size.

Soft baits for Sheepshead

Soft baits are the best artificial choice for Sheepshead, because they simply imitate what you would normally put on a hook in terms of live bait. Look for any soft bait that imitates a Sheepsheads natural diet, such as crabs and small shrimp.

The great thing about soft baits is that they can be used in any situation where live baits would be used. Cast them under the pier, near the jetties, or even near a tailing Sheepshead in the flats. They are especially effective when the Sheepshead are first chummed up using crushed or scraped barnacles from the pilings.

Many varieties are sold at local tackle shops from D.O.A. (left) and Berkeley Gulp (right). Images from BassPro.com

Artificial Flies for Sheepshead

Flies for sheepshead include many of the same used for redfish – often imitating a juvenile blue crab or fiddler crab.Shallow grass flats, oyster reefs, and sand bars are all productive areas for targeting sheepshead on the fly. Similar to redfish, sheepshead will also be seen “tailing” in the flats while searching for small crabs and other crustaceans in the benthos in shallow water. Cast a few feet in front of these tailing fish, or even in areas of slightly deeper water where the fish are likely to be.

Many crab flies exist, such as this juvenile blue swimming crab fly. Image taken from www.FlyShack.com.

A general statement about Sheepshead lures

Artificial lures are not the most commonly used technique, however are underrated in the right circumstances. One of the most frustrating experiences for an angler targeting sheepshead is losing your bait over, and over, and over again. When the fish are really biting, but you just can’t seem to set the hook, an artificial crab can save a whole lot of time and frustration, since you won’t have to re-bait the hook after every bite. There are of course many occasions when a sheepshead will laugh at an artificial lure and turn the other way, but when they’re really biting, they work quite well.