Sheepshead
Sheepshead in North Carolina are greenish-gray fish with laterally compressed bodies marked by five or six vertical dark bars on the sides, earning them the nickname 'convict fish.'
Also known as convict fish
Distinguished by prominent teeth with incisors, molars and rounded grinders that enable them to crush shellfish and sea urchins, plus strong, sharp spines on the dorsal and anal fins.
These fish commonly reach 20-25 inches and 5-15 pounds in North Carolina waters, though they can grow to 30 inches.
Fishing in North Carolina
Deep River
Badin Lake
Lake Tillery
Yadkin River
Haw River
Cape Fear River
New Hope Creek
Eno River
Uwharrie River
Back Creek Lake
What to know
Habitat Distribution
Found year-round in North Carolina's saltwater and brackish coastal waters around jetties, wharfs, pilings, shipwrecks and other structures covered with barnacles, mussels and oysters.Key Locations
Areas from Wilmington south to the Cape Fear River systemSpecific Spots
Juveniles are most abundant in grass flats and over muddy bottoms, while adults congregate around jetties, breakwaters, piers and wrecks. Focus on any hard structure with abundant marine growth.Sheepshead FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Sheepshead in North Carolina?
Bottom sweeper jigs, jaw breaker jigs, or Carolina rigs work well, but jigs provide better bite detection. The best bait is mud crabs found under oyster clumps at low tide (avoid protected stone crabs which have white leg bands), plus fiddler crabs, live shrimp, clams, barnacles, and sand fleas.
What flies work for Sheepshead in North Carolina?
Crab patterns like Merkin Crab or Raghead Crab, shrimp imitations like EP Shrimp, or Clouser Minnows
When is the best time to fish for Sheepshead in North Carolina?
During winter, these fish move offshore to deeper water, but as water warms in spring they stage on nearshore structures like rock jetties and artificial reefs before moving inshore for summer. February-April spawning season should be avoided for fishing to protect reproducing fish.
How do you catch Sheepshead in North Carolina?
Fish vertically around structures. Fish close to pilings and drop bait inches from structure, moving up in the water column if no bites. Present flies motionless on structure for best results. Chum by scraping barnacles off pilings.
What do Sheepshead eat?
Their diet consists primarily of mollusks and crustaceans like fiddler crabs, barnacles, oysters, clams, shrimp, and other invertebrates. They use their specialized teeth to scrape and crush hard-shelled prey from structures.
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