The Sheepshead bite has been pretty good. The fish are a little on the smaller side but mostly keepers. We got out there on the down going tide and started off working the North rocks. The fish were chewing right away except, we were missing all of our hook sets. Eventually, luck joined our side and Javier broke the ice with a keeper Sheepshead on the board. After that we worked the north row in sections, pulling out a fish here and there as we went. Lots of fish were chewing and it wasn't long before we ran out of Fiddlers. We decided to switch to plan B, hit the Reds, Whiting and maybe find some Drum. We worked a couple of spots and struck out. After moving around a bit we got it right and the Whiting started making their way into the box. They definitely weren't alone. Soon we were getting pounded by some big Bulls. The Bull Reds are still working their way through the Inlet headed offshore and they relentless. We got 4 in a very short time, 1 of which was 42 inches. That joker ate half a Shrimp on my lightest rig, a Penn Conquer 2000 spooled with 12 pound braid and mounted on a Star Stellar Lite. The fight was sketchy but a blast nonetheless. We landed 2 Bulls each and soon we were exhausted, ready to call it a day. Looking forward to our next trip.
Bait was simple, Fiddlers for the Sheepshead and Fresh dead Shrimp for everything else. I ALWAYS have a few pounds of dead Shrimp on board if I'm going Inlet fishing. Shrimp is easy to come by and can make the difference between a banner day and a bad one.
Rigging for the Sheepshead was a Carolina Rig. We use the lightest egg weight we can get away with. Hooks used were 2/0 Mosquito's by Owner Hooks. Leader material was 20lb mono. The Whiting and Reds were caught on Dropper rigs (hand tied not the store bought deals). Hooks on the Dropper rigs were 2/0 Owner circle hooks, weights used were 2oz Pyramids. I normally prefer Bank weights but ran out on my last trip out and forgot to restock them.
Tight Lines!
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Danny Pardue