The featured Gulf catch and cook species for March 2025 is the Sheepshead!
Sheepshead are fun to catch and delicious to eat! Sheepshead can be caught in the Gulf year-round!
Read on to learn how to catch Sheepshead and make a delicious meal!
Fun Facts
- Sheepshead have 3 rows of human-like teeth used to crush prey with protective shells, such as barnacles or crabs.
- Sheepshead are commonly called the Convict fish due to the striped vertical black and white bars displayed on its sides.
Species Profile
The sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) is commonly referred to as the Convict fish, due to the striped vertical black and white bars on its sides. They are a member of the porgy and seabream family but are generally considered a unique species compared to other porgies. They are found through the western Atlantic Ocean, from Canada to South America, but have the densest populations off the coast of southwestern Florida.
Appearance
Sheepshead are silver in color with five to six vertical striped, black bars down their sides. They are flat and oval in shape, with a rounded blunt head, horizontal mouth, and a slightly forked tail. Their dark-colored dorsal and anal fins have strong sharp spines and become rounded near the tail. One of the more notable features of a sheepshead is its human-like teeth used to crush prey. The teeth will occasionally protrude out of the mouth. They have well-defined incisors and molars, which they use to crush and grind the shells of pray animals.
Video from Collier County Florida Sea Grant showing a sheepshead feeding on a clam.
Habitat
Sheepshead typically live in inshore environments and prefer to congregate around structures such as rocks, piers, mangrove roots, or even tidal creeks. They are often found in shallow waters ranging from a few feet to 20 ft, but have been found in waters up to 60 ft in depth. Young Sheepshead will often live in shallow nursery habitats, including seagrass beds or mudflats. As they mature they move to coastal waters with defined structures such as mangrove roots, docks, piers, rock jetties, piling/markers, or wrecks, where they can target their food sources. During colder months the Sheepshead may enter freshwater rivers or springs to find warmer waters. They can be found if offshore waters during spawning months (late winter to spring), where they may congregate around artificial reefs, wrecks, or pilings/markers. They can tolerate saline to brackish waters. Their preferred diet are crabs, barnacles, oysters, and clams, all which are protected by a shell. They are opportunistic feeders and will often search along seawalls, rocks, pilings, or reefs for invertebrates to target.
Video from Collier County Florida Sea Grant showing a sheepshead feeding on a clam.
Biology and Life cycle
Sheepshead can grow up to 22 pounds and reach a length of around 30 inches. The average size is usually much smaller around 14-18 inches and 1-8 pounds. In the Gulf, the regulation size is 12 inches total length. The largest Sheepshead in Florida was caught in Homosassa at 15 lbs 2 oz. They will live up to 20 years but typically mature around 2 years old. Sheepshead are social fish and often congregate in groups around inland structures. While the majority of mating occurs in the late winter to early spring, they have been know to spawn more often. Adults will move offshore to spawn then return inland to coastal waters. Sheepshead are not tolerant of low oxygen levels and can often suffer large casualties when oxygen levels drop during events such as red tide
Catch
To maintain a healthy fishery, it is important to use sustainable fishing practices when catching and releasing fish. A Florida fishing license is required to land all saltwater species in Florida regardless of where they are caught (state or federal waters). Florida fishing licenses require a fee, however, fishing licenses from a shoreline are free. Both types require you to register for the license on the FWC website which can be found here: https://license.gooutdoorsflorida.com/
Habitat
- Common in 1 – 20 ft water depth, can be found in waters up to 60 ft in depth
- Prefer inland coastal waters with structure. (i.e. rock jetties, seawalls, piers, pilings, mangrove roots, and artificial wrecks)
- Live inshore where they can target prey such as crabs, barnacles, oysters, and clams
Season and Regulations
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- Sheepshead fishing in the Gulf State waters is open year-round.
- You are allowed to keep 8 Sheepshead per person, per day. (50 per vessel limit from March-April).
- The minimum size limit is 12 inches total length. Sheepshead must be 12 inches or greater to keep.
Measurement: Measure the Sheepshead with the mouth closed and tail pinched. Measure from the tip of the snout/mouth to the end of the tail.
Fishing regulations can change frequently, always check current FWC regulations before fishing. Regulations can be found here: myFWC
While you always hope to catch “The Big One” small fish are often caught during a fishing trip. If your catch is smaller than the regulations allow make sure you return them right. Fish should be returned to the water as quickly as possible and resuscitated. Learn more about the Return ‘em Right program here.
If in deep water (>50 ft) a descending device should be used to help the fish make it home. Using best release practices will help the future of your local fishery!
Descending devices are required when fishing for reef fish. You can get a free descending device sent to you by following this link: https://returnemright.org/
Methods
Spear, bow, gig, hook and line, cast nets, and seines are all legal ways to catch a Sheepshead. It is ILLEGAL to use multiple hooks in conjunction, with live or dead bait, or to snag a sheepshead.
Spearfishing, Bow fishing, or Gigging
Spearfishing or bow fishing can be a common way to catch Sheepshead. They often live in shallow coastal waters near docks or structures, making them easier to target. Their easily identifiable stripes and broad sides make them ideal for hunting.
Spearfishing can be conducted while scuba or free diving. Always take precautions to be safe when spearfishing. It is best to go with an experienced diver or be trained before attempting this method.
When spearfishing you still have to follow fishing regulations, meaning that you cannot shoot a sheepshead less than 12 inches in size. As the spearfishing method requires you to estimate the fish size, make sure you have practice with accurately estimating fish size underwater! You can practice hunting fish species of non-regulated sizes until you feel comfortable with this skill!
*Remember fish can look bigger underwater, so be careful when picking your target!!!*
Hook and line fishing
While many people target Hogfish by spearfishing, you can be just as successful with a hook and line. Hogfish tend to be more active during the summer or night hours but can be caught year-round. Winter is also a great time to target the Hogfish. Their typical diet includes crustaceans and mollusks, so sticking with these baits
will give you your best chances of success. Switching out bait often can keep the Hogfish in the area interested.
Bait
Below are some great bait choices for targeting Hogfish:
- Shrimp
- Crabs (fiddler)
- Sand fleas
- Artificial jigs
- Barnacles*
- Oysters**
*Barnacles do not have size limits and up to 100 pounds can be harvested per day. The best use of barnacles for sheepshead is by chumming the waters by scraping them into the water off of pilings or seawalls. HOWEVER, caution should be taken to avoid scraping oysters as they are a protected species. If you cannot accurately identify both species it is best to avoid this practice.
**Although Sheepshead enjoy eating oysters as well, there are strict regulations on oyster harvesting. Oysters have closed seasons, bag limits, size limits and can only be legally harvested in specific shellfish harvesting areas that are classified as “approved” or “conditionally approved” and in the “open” status. Do not scrape or harvest oysters from seawalls or reefs without checking regulations. You can, however, buy oysters to bring along and use them as bait!
Learn more about oyster regulations here and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture who manages these shellfish harvesting areas.
Tips and Tackle
When fishing for reef fish in the Gulf it is required to use non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks when using natural bait. A dehooking tool and descending device are also required for fishing in federal waters.
- Target areas with structure, such as piers, pilings, seawalls, mangrove roots, or rock jetties, where barnacles, oysters, or crabs are common.
- Using light tackle and a weighted line can help disguise the line from the fish.
- Sheepshead have a light bite so be partite and wait for small taps on the line.
- The best hook sizes for sheepshead are small 1/0-3/0 hooks.
- 10-20 lb monofilament or 15-20 lb braided line works best
For best fishing practices and to learn more fishing tips, tricks, and regulations check out the free Florida Friendly Angler course: Florida Friendly Angler Certification Program
If you want to go fishing but don’t have a boat of your own, fishing charters are a great option! You can find a list of certified Florida Friendly Fishing Guides here: FFA Guides
Cook
In the Gulf, Sheepshead is a sustainable seafood choice as it is plentiful and has limited commercial availability. It is not overly targeted among fishers, allowing for a thriving population.
Sheepshead meat is firm, white, and has a mild, sweet flavor. Cleaning a sheepshead can be difficult, due to its thick skin and bony ribcage, so take care to remove all of the bones.
It can be prepared in a variety of ways, fried, grilled, sautéed, steamed, and more! Below is a delicious recipe for cooking up your fresh catch:
Panko Crusted Fried Sheepshead
Serving size: 1 fillet
Ingredients:
- 2 Sheepshead fillets (4 oz each)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- ½ Cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil (frying)
Instructions:
- Cut sheepshead fillets into bite-sized strips (2 in by 1 in).
- Place fish in flour until coated.
- Whisk together milk and egg to form an egg batter wash, and transfer the fish into the egg wash.
- Mix salt, pepper, and panko breadcrumbs in a separate shallow bowl.
- Transfer the fish from the egg wash into the Panko mixture. Coat the fish with the Panko until it is fully covered.
- Heat the frying oil in a nonstick pan on medium-high. The oil should cover the bottom of the pan ½ to 1 in deep. Once heated add both fillets and cook for 2-3 minutes on both sides or until the fish golden brown. Ensure the fish is fully cooked through (white not opaque). Remove from the pan and set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Serve fish fillets and enjoy!
Serving Suggestion: Prepare a Hollandaise sauce and serve with fish fillets.
Next month sneak peek!
Our featured Gulf Catch for April is the Spanish Mackerel!
Did you know Spanish mackerel swim in large, fast-moving schools?
Do you have a favorite Spanish Mackerel recipe or a photo of you with your catch? Share it with us for a chance to be featured as a photo or recipe of the month! Submit here
More information on the Stock assessments can be found here: NOAA Stock Assessment
Check out the past Gulf Coast Catch and Cook blog posts!
Have a question? Ask the Author!
For more detailed information, contact your local University of Florida Extension Office.
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