Sheepshead trip - Ponce Inlet 11-24-11

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I have not been able to add to much to the blog lately as it's huntin' season and I'm afraid that takes precedent over fishing for me. However, dad talked me into going sheepshead fishing after he had some pretty good action a few days ago. I think he had caught over 15 off some docks he likes to fish near the inlet at Ponce. He also had one big drum about 8lb.

The only problem on our trip was the tide was extremely high and strong. It was so high it was over the dock at the lighthouse launch. The tide was so strong even a 2oz. lead would not come close to being able to keep your bait alongside the dock pilings. The other issue and probably the real problem was the passing front. It had apparently knocked the bite off to a dribble.

The weather was partly cloudy and pretty windy. forcast was for NNE @ 15-20 mph but it was not quite that strong. The high was about 73 and the pressure was 30.2. Apparently the small front had passed thru late in the afternoon the day before.

We had some crabs and shrimp for bait. Dad had even caught a few on barnacles he scraped off the piles on the last trip.

We caught a total of (4) sheepshead (2) black drum a big pigfish and a pile of bait stealing pinfish. I even caught a spot tail pinfish which Dad nor I had ever seen before.

Spot tail Pinfish!

The sheepshead were all just undersize and we were not able to put a keeper in the boat. Given the poor bite I guess we did o.k..

The drum was the big catch for the day. He was about 7lb. and I caught him under  a dock on a piece of fresh dead shrimp. The other drum I caught was just undersize so he got a reprieve and made it back over board.

7lb. Black Drum!

The only problem with fishing with shrimp is the bait stealing pinfish. If the big fish are feeding the pin fish are not as much of an issue but when the bite is slow, look out. Of course, If you have fished for sheepshead much you know they don't really like shrimp that well. You will catch a few on them but you'll catch 10 to 1 with crabs.  One more tip, keep a tight line and when you feel the first bite you better set the hook hard. Don't give him any slack either.

As soon as this weather settles out a little the bite should pick back up.

Good luck,
Larry S.

Sand Flea Sift Bucket Project

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If your already in to surf fishing then you should know all about fishing with Sand Fleas. However, what a lot of people fail to realize is they work great in the intracoastal as well! There are a variety of commonly sought fish that will readily eat a sand flea. Any fish in the intracoastal that will eat a small crab will eat a sand flea, including, redfish, sheepshead and black drum. Make sure you bring more than you think you need as even pin fish love them and you'll can go through them pretty quickly at times.

The sand fleas are pretty easy to catch and free for the taking. A small package of them can cost you $4-5 at a bait shop.

Sand Flea Rake!

There are two basic ways to catch sand fleas and that is a sand flea rake or a sifting device. Actually, both work on the sifting principal. The rake is a wire basket on a handle and the other can be made from almost anything. A simple way to go is to use a 5 gal. bucket, etc. and drill 3/8" holes in the bottom. You just shovel the sand in and rinse it out, leaving sand fleas and some shells.

You don't need to be a genius to figure this one out but it's a little bit of useful information if your going to catch your own fleas. I trust you can figure this project out from just the picture so no complicated directions are needed.

Homemade bucket sifter!

Good luck sand flea hunting!
Larry S.
                                                                                                                 

My Photo's, Misc. Catch Pictures #3

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Just some more fish pictures!