Advertisement

Captain's Corner: Sheepshead a great winter target

 
Published Feb. 25, 2017

Sheepshead have long been one of our favorite targets during the unsettled winter weather patterns. They are cold tolerant and don't mind if it's blowing. They stack up along the relatively protected jetties in areas passes, deep water marinas and most major bridges. They bunch up on artificial reefs and nearly everywhere there's an accumulation of underwater structure. The roe-laden females have staged in these areas in preparation to spawn and have ganged up along the rocky edges of the ships channel inside Tampa Bay. We've focused our attention there with mangrove snapper hanging with the sheepies. Many of the more productive edges of the channel are 30 to 40 feet deep. Getting and staying on the bottom is imperative. Be aware that Sunday's new moon will bring strong tides. We've done best when a 2-ounce weight or less holds bait on the bottom. We were catching sheepies, mangos and grunts until aggressive dolphin began helping themselves to our hooked fish, an increasing nuisance.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.