Best SHEEPSHEAD RIGS (And When To Use Them)

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Have you ever had a sheepshead steal your bait?
It's happened to all of us!
They're so quick and tactful when they slurp up a shrimp or fiddler crab right off of your hook.
But there are ways to let that happen much less...
And the best way to do that is to rig your baits in a way that lets you feel the strike better.
In this video, you'll learn my two favorite ways to rig baits for sheepshead that presents them naturally (so you can get more strikes) and in a way that lets you feel the strike (so you can get more hookups).
You'll also learn when to use these rigs, which is just as important as knowing which ones to use.
Have any questions about these rigs?
What's your favorite sheepshead rig?
Let me know down in the comments.

[@Saltstrong]

Stop paying full price for your tackle and get on the water fishing tips every week. Click here to join us in the Insider Club: bit.ly/3qk1Mgg

[@jamiehoward1906]

The dropper rig is awesome you can really feel every bite and it makes it easier when casting towards structure. Carolina rig is my second favorite for fishing vertical.

[@TomMendoladrums]

This is my favorite channel for fishing tips. No BS!

[@webincomeincome8767]

Thanks for the video and all spot on. I too like to use dropper rigs for allot of fish especially sheepshead and snapper in deeper (10+ feet) water. Since sheepshead are notorious bait steelers I personally feel your dropper loop is too long thereby reducing strike feel. I set them no more then about 2-3 inches long from the mainline or even pull the hook right against the mainline. Instant feel enhancement.

[@michaeltate9117]

I use the dropper for everything! Old faithful

[@just1morefishing676]

Put a dropper loop above the jighead and then you have 2 baits in the water. When I use a dropper loop I never make it the long. Closer to the main line you will feel the bite easier.

[@tboneking5]

1 oz egg weight to a 1/0 j hook has pretty much worked for every single application I’ve fished it in

[@buddycochransr.1842]

I am a first time sheep head fishing. Thanks for the info howto. Buddy

[@ericnorton4045]

Great video very informative and helpful. Moved here three years ago trying to learn saltwater. There is so much to learn lol

[@Saltstrong]

Yes there is!

[@BartonsBuilds]

AWESOME 💎s You Gave Us, THANK YOU SO MUCH💯‼️

[@fongvang1111]

Thanks for the advice!!👍

[@js10is]

Have had good success with bottom sweeper jigs...down current side of the pilings

[@abeeliz2165]

I still haven't hooked up on sheepshead. Looking forward to using this rig, Is it OK to use 3 way swivel for the universal setup you showed?

[@liarthief9770]

Hey tony What is the best rig to use for fishing sheepshead on the Jetty

[@therodpapa-anoldguyfishing1683]

How you you feel about using the jig and dropper at the same time on the same rig?

[@FishOnChannel]

great video ...

[@buddycochransr.1842]

Thanks for the howto information.Buddy C.

[@JoelDaily]

I use a similar rig but my hook is ON the line, not to the side on a "drop". Extremely sensitive. Tie a palomar with a long tag end (like 10-12in tag), one end for weight, other end for swivel, hook is in the middle.

[@kendixon6437]

Yes Sir you are a good teacher 👍

[@Saltstrong]

Thank you for checking it out!

[@dmnguye69]

Sheepshead spooks very easily and i've noticed in clear water condition the bottom rig with the big sinker will scare them vs. the bottom sweeper if you're fishing mid water column. In murkier water it's a lot easier not to spook them. I noticed also your bottom rig's hook is too long, I prefer to keep my as close as I can to the main leader so it doesn't give these convict fish a lot of slack to steal my bait. That's just my experience.

[@bangarangfishing9219]

I go with a slip cork rig at jetties. It let’s me adjust depths without having to retie.

[@gtgravy_3099]

I get adds for bottom sweeper jobs all the time

[@rudyperezjr4815]

Awesome

[@calallen8786]

Only thing in west coast Florida we use split shot and small hook for sheep's. Since it hard to feel them bite. Dropper rig won't work here tho

[@waltertx.6020]

Tony, I've never used that much weight on the bottom for Sheepshead. Would we use it for anything other than non straight down? As always great video, thanks Tony 👍

[@Americanbourbonking]

Do you put any bait like piece of shrimp or squid for the rig (the second one)?

[@gabrieldelatrinidad4422]

Is this rig work in southern California?

[@seanwilliams8452]

Dropper rig is way better than fish finder or knocker rig, but I like my hook much closer to the main line. More sensitive and less snags.

[@JoelDaily]

I agree, I started tying my own that basically takes out the "drop". I tie the hook with a Palomar knot with a very long tag end. One end is for the weight, the other is swivel (for mainline). So basically my hooks is ON the line, cannot be more sensitive in detecting bites.

[@orlandoduran7740]

i just use a knocker rig with a 1 size hook, weight depends where im fishing but most of the time not more than 1/2 oz

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ericnorton4045]

So is the octopus hook? Is that the same thing as a circle hook? I know this might be a stupid question but I'm very new to salt water. I was told that circle hooks are mandatory by law in Florida

[@Saltstrong]

Always check the FWC website for regulations. Here is some information that might be helpful: myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/gear-rules/

[@bryen9232]

Caught some decent sheepshead on a jetty tied a jig up my main line and tied a leader and hook to the tail end.

[@Saltstrong]

Awesome!

[@tonyramirez6330]

My rig would be a 1/4 oz egg weight freely on the line and a number 1 or 2 Jhook

[@Saltstrong]

That works for sure.

[@silascaldwell2785]

I just use cheap no paint jig heads 1/2-1/4 oz depending on current ...if i don't have crabs im droppin a cranka crab ...i haven't tried the other crab lures yet but i plan to as soon as i loose my cranka :)

[@lordnut1292]

I just realized that’s the same spot I went to last week at the draw bridge

[@Saltstrong]

Haha cool!

[@neilaltschuler6064]

What's the best bait to use for sheepshead worms crabs

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for your question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: bit.ly/3qgvd2Y

[@chasebarnard5750]

I'm here because my bait keeps getting stolen. I almost exclusively use the bottom sweeper with crabs fishing straight down. I've been putting the bait right on the tip of the hook, and it gets stolen every time I go to set the hook. Am I just too slow?

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community (www.saltstrong.com/) where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: bit.ly/3qgvd2Y

[@dd214fishing]

Any jighead will work those special sheephead jigheads sucks if you tournament fishing

[@waltertx.6020]

I learned something new about the increased bottom weight. I've always used about 1ouce next to bridge pilings. So increasing it makes sense to me.

[@neilaltschuler6064]

Similar to porgies up north

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback and for watching! Also for any northern tips make sure to check out tips from our coach Rich Natoli: www.saltstrong.com/?s=rich+natoli

[@gerardamitranno8837]

What bait do like to use with both of these rigs ?

[@Saltstrong]

Great question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community (www.saltstrong.com/) where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: bit.ly/3qgvd2Y

[@erockscott1184]

I lose fish all the time on circle hooks...im gonna switch to a J hook

[@bipedalhominid6815]

Dropper rig? You mean a simple bottom rig?

[@andreweberbach172]

Knocker rig

[@bowhunter1227]

Isn't 2-3 onces a recipe for disaster? Casting into structure, especially jetty rock, I would think you would be spending more time tying on new gear than fishing.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for your question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: bit.ly/3qgvd2Y

[@bowhunter1227]

@Saltstrong I'm already a member so there is no reason to upsale me

[@robertlosasso4222]

That hook leader is too long .