Some sheepshead stay inshore year-round, and many move between offshore, nearshore, and inshore structures, usually in the fall and early spring. They are looking for, and eating, whatever they can find among the barnacles. Observant anglers often spot sheepshead swimming around pier pilings, bridge supports and other debris. They consume a good deal of algae as well, but fisheries biologists aren’t sure if that is by choice, or if they just happen to eat the material while foraging for their favored foods. Their diet is made up of mussels, clams, oysters, barnacles, crabs, shrimp, and occasionally, small fish. These fish use their teeth to crush and grind invertebrates that commonly live around concrete, metal, and wooden structures. They also have numerous molar-like teeth, depending on the fish’s age and health. Inside their mouths are four wide teeth on both sides of the jaw that resemble incisors. The spines are very sharp and should be avoided by anglers. They have a well-defined lateral line that runs horizontally from the rear of the gill plate down the center of the body toward the tail.Ī sheepshead’s dorsal fin has 12 spines and 11 soft rays. They have a silverish-green to gray body with five or six dark vertical bars that run all the way from the dorsal fins to the bottom of the fish’s body. Sheepshead are somewhat oval-shaped, much like a freshwater bluegill, but sheepshead grow much larger and are more elusive. They are difficult to catch, and most successful sheepshead anglers devote a lot of time to specifically targeting them, rather than just fishing for whatever is biting. Nevertheless, these fish are sought after by many anglers for their sporty fight as well as their tasty table fare.
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