Sheepshead

[john1947]

caught a large brown in pultneyville harbor whild jig fishing for perch. Battle lasted about 20 minuteswith brown pulling out.Reeled the line in and had a stick bait on the gig..that is the second brown caught with a stick bait burried in its jaw.Very nice sheephead largest i ever saw ,lately they seem to have returned here ,gone for several years.

[devoknevo]

So, ........back to the Sheepshead topic,

....... has anyone actually ever eaten one? How was it?

[pikefreak]

My son and I caught a nice small one.  Maybe 18".  Filleted it and cooked it up with perch and walleyes.  Taste is similar and the texture is more firm.  We will do it again but throw back the big ones as I've yet to taste a huge fish that wasn't a bit strong.  The chowder idea is perfect and I'm glad you mentioned it.   

here ya go Devo

[baitrigger]

Caught my first in dunkirk harbor in the 70s. I have caught them in every erie trib. From flys at burt (i know lady O) to fredonia. Thats twice the size of the biggest i have seen. I have never seen anyone eat them. I was always told they were garbage bottom feeders. We call lakers sheep trout because they fight like sheepheads. They feel like an old boat filled with water. They are also considered bad luck in bass circles, once you catch one your lure will only catch sheeps. Not a pretty fish. All that being said, I'd mount that sucker.

[devoknevo]

Here's a couple more Mac Daddy's from today!

Got five on a sonar and the big one on a Kinchu Minnow. I used to hate these things now I'm having a blast targeting walleye and getting Sheepshead! State record here we come!

Edited June 5, 2014 by devoknevo

[pikefreak]

Got 4 more tonight! The boys and my dad loved the fight!!

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[EYE SPY]

Here's a couple the bigger ones I've caught trolling for eyes.... Henderson/Chaumont area

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[pikefreak]

Those are some nice ones! Hopefully I can get some eyes this weekend!!

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[Phisherman585]

Here a big one I got from the bay a few years ago. Definitely over 15lbs. Very very fat and full of eggs. Great fight.

[pro-fish-n-c]

Here is one that measured 32" exact on the bump board, hit a firetiger deep husky jerk. They also seem to really love crayfish.

[Trap Jaw]

I thought that had to be close to an IGFA record...  Wrong, the all tackle is 54lbs.  Now I would like to have seen that one.

[pikefreak]

Nys record for fresh water drum is 24lb8ounces

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[pikefreak]

3 more today!

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[zadvorney]

I'm amazed at how many posts this thread has gotten to.  An under rated fish for it's sporting potential.  I can see it now, a special bonus category in the next LOTSA tourny.

[pikefreak]

They are fun to catch!

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[pikefreak]

Went out tonight with my son and two buddies, trolled 5 rods off the back of the pontoon and landed 7out of 10 sheepshead!! Was a perfect night on the water!!

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[pikefreak]

Went out tonight with my son and two buddies, trolled 5 rods off the back of the pontoon and landed 7out of 10 sheepshead!! Was a perfect night on the water!!

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[devoknevo]

I'm amazed at how many posts this thread has gotten to.  An under rated fish for it's sporting potential.  I can see it now, a special bonus category in the next LOTSA tourny.

 

You are absolutly correct sir!

 We're catching so many big ones (over 14lbs) EVERYTIME out, we gave up taking pictures!

 They hit  anything, in fact, I've been switching everything up trying to get away from the Sheep and still catch them at all depths with all lures.

 They fight like crazy and will spool you on light line.......Just ask Pikefreak how many lures he's gone through!!!

[Pike Hunter]

Wow! I am amazed about the responses to this post. I am all for promoting fishery in our backyard.

 

Great job PikeFreak.

 

Have you ever wondered how I got my nickname when I started fishing in bay before I explored the Lake Ontario? I started out chasing for pike before I switched to chasing for salmon and trout. I can promise you this very day will happen to you.

[pikefreak]

I catch a ton of big pike ice fishing and love catching pike/walleye/tiger muskies! I do want to try catching some salmon/ trout!

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[FishingSkrip27]

I keep telling PikeFreak...once he hooks into a 25# king....he will forget what a sheepshead is. 

[devoknevo]

I keep telling PikeFreak...once he hooks into a 25# king....he will forget what a sheepshead is. 

 

That's like comparing apples to oranges?

[moog5050]

Pikefreak, we motored by you guys while you fishing near the channel on our way in last night.  I may have to give them a try.  What are you using?  Thx

[threemilebay]

When I was a kid my older brother caught one that would have surely been the state record. He fought it for 45 minutes as it dragged our little 12 ft boat around. My twin brother and I watched from shore as he and his friend fought it. It took up the whole back of the boat when they finally came to shore with it. We measured it at 46" but never got a weight. Being so young we had no idea it was as big as it w as. The elders said we used to catch them all the time that big. That's what they always say. Lol. Anyways we missed out on having a state record. BTW the state record was caught within a few miles from us on chaumont bay.

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[pikefreak]

Ya I looked up the record a few days after I caught it once people started telling me how big it was.

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