February is prime time to fish for sheepshead

From backyard Cape canals to nearshore reefs February is prime sheepshead spawning time for those willing to donate some bait to try and fool these hard-fighting, hungry and, for the novice, tricky-to-hook fish that are as much fun to eat as they are to catch

If you’re new to the game start your search in the classic deep-water spots like bridge and dock pilings where baits are presented vertically hugging the piling on the drop all the way to the bottom then lightly jigged or crawled along the bottom, as in inches at a time

Remember its winterslow down

This popular catching and eating fish is readily available to the walking angler as well by using the many public docks jetties and riprap-lined seawalls throughout the area

Most anglers burn expensive fuel to get to their nearshore sheepie bite while others stay near home simply idling along Cape canals, using their electronics to find schools Once found, these new locations will often become dependable winter hot spots for years to come

Others will encounter this fish’s second choice home in shallower waters --oyster beds or bars especially those connected to a cut or channel running by or around it

Lately I ve had success fishing docks near the ICW, even catching a few double-digit fish and have also had reports from anglers hunting Boca Grande Pass fish-holding structures

These sharp-eyed bait stealers call for light line to fool them at the same time putting the angler at a distinct disadvantage as sheepshead territory is also razor-sharp, barnacle-encrusted, line-parting territory as well When you hook up the fish will instinctively use the available cover to try and break off so put maximum heat on it to keep it out of cover Like grouper fishing the battle is often won or lost in the first minutes -- actually seconds, as the fish heads back to the safety of its underwater cover Rig up with 15 to 20-pound braid and a long fluorocarbon leader Use the lightest leader you think you can get away with Often I’ll go way down to 12-pound test but never lighter

Various rigs would include a dropper rig That is a weight at the end of the line and a 3-way swivel above for the other short line and hook, a simple hook and split shot rig, even a plain 1/8-ounce jig head all work for live or various dead bait presentations

A quality size 1 or 2 thin wire ultra-sharp J style or octopus hook seems to work best on these hard mouthed, hard scaled and toothy fish

Whatever your method, line watchers catch the most fish Those that have a good feel also catch the most fish You’ll definitely lose some before you get the hang of it so focus and pay attention

Sheepshead are crunchers enjoying food that comes in shells like tiny crabs, barnacles and shrimp, so if you re dock fishing, look for older docks with heavy growth on the pilings that support life underneath the water I like making a cast or two to a piling then quietly moving to the next till I cover each one in the row finally finding the ones holding the fish Quiet is key here as they spook quite easily being right below the boat's hollow hull No luck? Try chumming Take your shovel and bucket and scrape off a bucket full of piling barnacles and dribble them out while fishing to attract fish to your location

The usual baits -- fiddler crabs shrimp bits, clams, barnacles and oysters -- all are favorites, but today I saw a You Tube clip of a guy slaying huge sheepies using a tub of plain old earthworms a split shot and a number 2 hook Sheepies can also be sight-fished using realistic fake crabs from Savage Canka and Crusty Crab

Capt George Tunison is a Cape