Sheepshead are in town

[saltfisherman]

Nice day today, fished the outgoing from 8-12. 
 

a small red, small black drum and a bunch of small sheepshead with 4 keepers for the plate, 14-16 inches. Used live shrimp and some I froze from a trip prior. 
 

 

[RWP]

Are you in the Gulf? I caught sheep all summer on the Atlantic side.

[saltfisherman]

1 hour ago, RWP said:

Are you in the Gulf? I caught sheep all summer on the Atlantic side.

Yes, gulf. SWFL to be specific. They and black drum are very seasonal fish. Our water has to cool down before we see any with a better size all around. 

[RWP]

44 mins ago, saltfisherman said:

Yes, gulf. SWFL to be specific. They and black drum are very seasonal fish. Our water has to cool down before we see any with a better size all around. 

That's weird. They were around in 90° water here (SE Florida). Just need to find deeper water and they are there.

[saltfisherman]

18 mins ago, RWP said:

That's weird. They were around in 90° water here (SE Florida). Just need to find deeper water and they are there.

That is a bit tougher given the depth of water here is a rule of 1 mile gains you a foot of water. Add to the idea that there is zero bottom structure within anything of a distance. Lastly I fish from a kayak which adds another hurdle. 
 

The east coast and west are so very different when it comes to water depth, structure and temps. Where it takes you 1/4 mile or less to get in 40’ it could take you an hour of a drive to get there here. 

[saltfisherman]

So here’s one for you, this happened today. I caught a keeper sheepshead, cut its gills to bleed out. I then aways take the fish and put it under my left foot to bleed out. Between the narrowness of the foot well and the ability to keep the fish under control it’s easy. Well today I went to place that fish under my foot and it decides to flop out of the kayak before I could get it close to my foot. So now, I have a fish overboard, cut gills and gone. I did wait and it took a few minutes but it did float to the surface, I was able to recover it. 

[RWP]

7 mins ago, saltfisherman said:

That is a bit tougher given the depth of water here is a rule of 1 mile gains you a foot of water. Add to the idea that there is zero bottom structure within anything of a distance. Lastly I fish from a kayak which adds another hurdle. 
 

The east coast and west are so very different when it comes to water depth, structure and temps. Where it takes you 1/4 mile or less to get in 40’ it could take you an hour of a drive to get there here. 

Makes sense.

[gellfex]

2 hours ago, saltfisherman said:

So here’s one for you, this happened today. I caught a keeper sheepshead, cut its gills to bleed out. I then aways take the fish and put it under my left foot to bleed out. Between the narrowness of the foot well and the ability to keep the fish under control it’s easy. Well today I went to place that fish under my foot and it decides to flop out of the kayak before I could get it close to my foot. So now, I have a fish overboard, cut gills and gone. I did wait and it took a few minutes but it did float to the surface, I was able to recover it. 

I learned my lesson on that score some years back my 1st time fishing SW FL renting kayaks out of Chokoloskee. I caught my 1st ever keeper red, and put it under my knee in the Native Ultimate, basically a canoe. MF started flopping, and got up and out! It ain't caught till it's on the stringer, and only then if the stringer is double clipped! My poor son learned that last lesson with a stringer of blues when he was like 15.