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Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are among Louisiana's most abundant and underrated saltwater fish, commonly found throughout the state's coastal waters from saline to near-fresh estuarine environments.

Scientific Name: Archosargus probatocephalus

Also known as Convict Fish

Physical Characteristics:
  • These distinctive fish are easily identified by their broad, compressed bodies marked with 5-7 wide, grayish-black vertical bars on a light gray or white background.
  • Their most remarkable feature is their human-like teeth - sharp incisors in front and powerful molars in back - perfectly adapted for crushing shells and scraping barnacles.
  • Adults commonly weigh 2-8 pounds but can reach 20 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These fish are native to the Gulf of Mexico and are particularly abundant around hard structures.
  • They inhabit primarily brackish waters but migrate between nearshore and offshore waters seasonally.

Key Locations

  • Target locations include Lake Pontchartrain (especially around the Causeway and old train trestles), Calcasieu Lake near Lake Charles, and the numerous oil rigs and jetties along the coast.

Specific Spots

  • Fish structure like the rock jetties, oil rigs, bridge pilings, and oyster reefs found throughout Louisiana's coastal areas.
  • They are particularly abundant around hard structures like rock jetties, piers, oil rigs, pilings, weirs, and oyster reefs.

Sheepshead FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Sheepshead in Louisiana?

The most productive baits are live fiddler crabs (remove the large claw from males), live or dead shrimp (pinch off tail flippers), pieces of blue or mud crabs, sand fleas, tube worms, and clams.

When is the best time to fish for Sheepshead in Louisiana?

The prime season for sheepshead fishing in Louisiana is fall through winter, starting in late September and continuing through the cooler months. Winter is considered the absolute best time.

How do you catch Sheepshead in Louisiana?

Use techniques like bottom fishing with Carolina rigs or knocker rigs, vertical jigging around pilings, and sight fishing in clear water. In areas like Lake Pontchartrain, chumming is extremely effective using crushed oyster shells or barnacles scraped from pilings.

What do Sheepshead eat?

These omnivorous fish have diverse diets that change seasonally and by location - a Lake Pontchartrain study showed their diet consists of 54% plants, 19% mussels, 10% sponges, 8% clams, 3% croakers and other fish, with smaller amounts of mud crabs, barnacles, and blue crabs.

Where do Sheepshead live in Louisiana?

These fish are native to the Gulf of Mexico and are particularly abundant around hard structures. They inhabit primarily brackish waters but migrate between nearshore and offshore waters seasonally.

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