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These fish were keyed in on pass crabs drifting out of Stump Pass in Lemon Bay and as a result were very willing to eat a topwater lure. I had never caught a sheepie on an artificial and never in a million years thought I would catch one on topwater! A very interesting strike and a great fight on lighter tackle. I landed two, one just over 20" (my new personal best) and one at 15". I lost a few before I found the right technique to getting them to stay on.

I wrote up a whole report from the day including redfish, snook, trout, bluefish and more on my blog... link in my signature!

Just when I've seen everything. Way cool.

Wow, I have only been able to catch sheepshead on a small hook baited with a piece of shrimp.

Might have been a time to free line a Gulp crab.

Very cool. Congrats.

That is wild. In all the years fishing I have never seen that.

Wicked

Staged!?...Never caught one on artificial, let alone top water. Is it 2 separate fish? The hook is locked into the the left cheek on 2 photos and, the right on 1 photo. Very curious. Great catch otherwise.

sfcscott wrote:Staged!?...Never caught one on artificial, let alone top water. Is it 2 separate fish? The hook is locked into the the left cheek on 2 photos and, the right on 1 photo. Very curious. Great catch otherwise.

Two seperate fish. Larger one got a treble on the side of the face and is in the picture with the paddle and in the water. It was the first one I caught, got the picture of it in the water before I tried to land it to make sure I got some photo evidence since I was absolutely shocked! Second one (bottom right) was the smaller fish and only got the back treble. Larger was just over 20" and smaller was about 15-16".

Interesting fights with both. Larger one made a pretty decent explosion on the lure and was a complete surprise, while the second (smaller) just kind of slurped it. The second I actually sightfished... Saw 4-5 pecking at a crab and castes right next to the crab... Boom fish on!

When I hooked the second one I was laughing my butt off knowing I was having one of the strangest days I'll ever have on the water!

I caught a large sheepshead on top water in Miguel Bay several years ago with Ray Markham. I've caught a couple on jigs and a few on fly.
But your catches certainly are more impressive.

had one hit a mullet spoon jr once and was amazed. Pulled a sheepshead a few weeks ago on a doa curly tail. perfect hook set right past the teeth

OK, now that we have our sheepshead,

How good are they to eat ( fileted) compared to redfish filets?

Delish but a pain in the ass to clean. Big bones, big scales, tough skin..Theres an Irishman here that jousts guts it and throws it in the microwave.