http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/Captain-s-Corner-It-s-good-time-to-target-sheepshead-smaller-reef-fish_164918672

The colder than normal water temperatures for this time of year has affected both inshore and offshore fishing. Inshore anglers have their old standby sheepshead to provide light-tackle action and great table fare. Natural bait such as fiddler crabs, pieces of live or frozen shrimp, barnacles threaded on a 1/0 circle hook, clams and oysters will work after chumming the area with small pieces of whatever the bait of choice is. Artificial lures do not work well for sheepshead because they are a grazing type of fish and rely more on scent to locate their prey. Offshore anglers, when they can get out, have been affected in the same way by water temperatures that have slowed the grouper bite to almost a standstill. The standbys are the smaller reef fish. White grunts, porgies and Lane and mangrove snapper are our offshore targets. These species do not present much fight when caught on standard grouper tackle but can prove a worthy adversary when caught on 12- to 15-pound class tackle such as that used for trout inshore and bass in freshwater. Use small circle hooks (1/0 or 2/0) and the lightest weight that will get the bait to the bottom. Knocker rigs or jig heads can be employed with success. Live or frozen shrimp and squid strips are the baits of choice. In between fronts, 60-foot depths have produced best. Deeper depths do not seem to be holding as many of the prized reef fish, and shallower waters are still murky from stirred-up sediment.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

CapMel Staff
Latest posts by CapMel Staff (see all)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR