Questions About California Sheephead - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-13-2018, 03:58 PM

Crushed mussels scraped off a pier and/or garden snails might also be worth a try. Yum! Fresh whole shrimp seem to be mentioned the most for targeting sheephead.
They have those jaws and buck teeth for a reason.

FACTOID: all California Sheephead are born as pink females. Around 7-8 years they transition to male goats and develop their stripes. Setting minimum catch sizes has made populations mostly female, with negative effect on population sizes.

skrilla · 06-13-2018, 09:34 PM

Fresh dead and rigged so it lays on the bottom. *Reverse dropper loop mack strips will slay em if you find em. Nov-Dec has always been prime time for me.

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-14-2018, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrilla

Fresh dead and rigged so it lays on the bottom. Dropper loop mack strips will slay em if you find em. Nov-Dec has always been prime time for me.

Reverse Dropper Loop to keep the bait flat on the bottom?

skrilla · 06-14-2018, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

Reverse Dropper Loop to keep the bait flat on the bottom?

Oops, edited. Yes reverse dropper loop. Bait laying on the bottom has been very successful for me. Suspended bait will attract everything else. But goats seem better proficient at eating off the floor... just like actual goats.

radastaff · 06-16-2018, 06:40 AM

Nov. / Dec. my best time in the past

drop shot setup

they like squid heads too

Johnp · 06-16-2018, 08:15 PM

Crawdads seemed like a great idea since they love lobster. The crawdads stayed alive amazingly well in saltwater in areas that normally produce. Nothing touched them the one time I used them.

Mr. NiceGuy · 06-16-2018, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnp

Crawdads seemed like a great idea since they love lobster. The crawdads stayed alive amazingly well in saltwater in areas that normally produce. Nothing touched them the one time I used them.

That's good to know. I'll stick with shrimps and mussels for now.

Joey at Squidco is a person who's opinions I respect. He said the "big bait, big fish" rule applies with sheephead. He said larger baits are not a deterrent. .
I know sheephead tend to be nibblers of crustaceans in the rocks, reefs and stuck to kelp, so I was wondering if larger baits would separate larger sheephead from younger females and smaller rockfish, or if smaller baits were more important for sheephead in general.

Maybe tuna crabs would be good when they are available?

This looks so delicious, I'm tempted to try it myself!

Hunters Pa · 06-14-2018, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

Crushed mussels scraped off a pier and/or garden snails might also be worth a try. Yum! Fresh whole shrimp seem to be mentioned the most for targeting sheephead.
They have those jaws and buck teeth for a reason.

I have heard garden snails are good but have not tried them. Same thing on chumming a bunch of crushed up mussels then dropping a chunk down with a hook in

summers in kuwait · 06-14-2018, 09:27 AM

I've caught goats in the kelp and rocks from ~50 ft to 150 ft. I've had good luck with shrimp, ghost shrimp and squid. Octopus will work as well as clams and crustaceans, mollusks and hard-shellfish. I typically prefer spectra with a short leader material, so there is less stretch in the line. I have used both dropper and reverse, but usually just stick with traditional dropper and a basic knot on the weight to break of in the case of snags. They will sometimes nibble and play, but once they load the rod you need to get them off the rocks or you may risk loosing them.

TheBentRod · 06-14-2018, 09:45 AM

I love your philosophy on fishing. I fancy myself as a hunter-gatherer, but I don't always want just any fish. Don't get me wrong, the family loves a fish-fry! Sheepshead and red snapper are my favorites for the feast.

As I learn the areas I fish in So Cal, I find you can find all of the species in each bay from SD to Lompoc. Not much experience further north.

That being said, I have structure where I can guarantee I'll find certain species. I also learned that the same structure produces the same results in SD as well as Malibu. You are one of us that does put in time on the water and next time I go to my sheepshead spot I will send you a picture of the FF screen. That way you won't pass by a potential spot without a drop down.

BTW - I use fresh cut mac on a 2 hook gangion suspended one - two foot off the bottom. I have found over the years everything bites fresh cut mac and I know how to catch them, now. LOL

06-13-2018, 03:58 PM	#1
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 838	Crushed mussels scraped off a pier and/or garden snails might also be worth a try. Yum! Fresh whole shrimp seem to be mentioned the most for targeting sheephead. They have those jaws and buck teeth for a reason. FACTOID: all California Sheephead are born as pink females. Around 7-8 years they transition to male goats and develop their stripes. Setting minimum catch sizes has made populations mostly female, with negative effect on population sizes. __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise Last edited by Mr. NiceGuy; 06-14-2018 at 06:27 AM.

06-13-2018, 09:34 PM	#2
skrilla Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 664	Fresh dead and rigged so it lays on the bottom. Reverse dropper loop mack strips will slay em if you find em. Nov-Dec has always been prime time for me. __________________ Urban Camo Trident 13 Last edited by skrilla; 06-14-2018 at 08:30 PM.*

06-16-2018, 08:15 PM	#6
Johnp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 106	Crawdads seemed like a great idea since they love lobster. The crawdads stayed alive amazingly well in saltwater in areas that normally produce. Nothing touched them the one time I used them. __________________ JohnnyTheHook

06-14-2018, 09:45 AM	#10
TheBentRod Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Murrieta, CA and Bonney Lake, WA Posts: 424	Sheepshead I love your philosophy on fishing. I fancy myself as a hunter-gatherer, but I don't always want just any fish. Don't get me wrong, the family loves a fish-fry! Sheepshead and red snapper are my favorites for the feast. As I learn the areas I fish in So Cal, I find you can find all of the species in each bay from SD to Lompoc. Not much experience further north. That being said, I have structure where I can guarantee I'll find certain species. I also learned that the same structure produces the same results in SD as well as Malibu. You are one of us that does put in time on the water and next time I go to my sheepshead spot I will send you a picture of the FF screen. That way you won't pass by a potential spot without a drop down. BTW - I use fresh cut mac on a 2 hook gangion suspended one - two foot off the bottom. I have found over the years everything bites fresh cut mac and I know how to catch them, now. LOL

06-16-2018, 06:40 AM	#5
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	Nov. / Dec. my best time in the past drop shot setup they like squid heads too

06-14-2018, 09:27 AM	#9
summers in kuwait Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: East County San Diego Posts: 657	I've caught goats in the kelp and rocks from ~50 ft to 150 ft. I've had good luck with shrimp, ghost shrimp and squid. Octopus will work as well as clams and crustaceans, mollusks and hard-shellfish. I typically prefer spectra with a short leader material, so there is less stretch in the line. I have used both dropper and reverse, but usually just stick with traditional dropper and a basic knot on the weight to break of in the case of snags. They will sometimes nibble and play, but once they load the rod you need to get them off the rocks or you may risk loosing them.