Big Sheepshead Time at the Docks! Fishing Explodes with Cold Weather!

[@joshrussell9460]

Some nice big fish gotta love that. Funny I look forward to your florida videos as much as the northern ones now. Great action . Enjoy John . Fall run in jersey by me is just about done so until next season my fishing fix is 100% through your videos. Thanks as always

[@samuelstonebraker3737]

I love that rod color! Tell Josh he should offer them in green, I'd definitely get one (or more) in that color.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I need to get on his case about it because I agree with you.

[@mikestromberg-n7k]

John love your videos I'm on plane now heading down to Sarasota looking forward to catch some sheepshead on my whaler with my new power pole

[@kirkstubblefield8835]

Yeah, thanks for the heads up on those Slickers order me a pair of puppies. I could forward to check it out thanks man signed Kirk.

[@WilliamKiene]

John Skinner has a great deal of fishing knowledge that he shares in his books and videos. Our bait shop fiddler crabs are about the size of a dime. How do you get those mud scrabs John? A stable kayak or small stable boat can change your fishing experience, dramatically.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

You have to flip oysters. I'd gladly buy fiddlers if my local shops had them.

[@WilliamKiene]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing Sadly, Our fiddler crabs are the size of a dime. Some climb in the mangrove and catch those larger crabs.

[@mikeknottscreek8183]

Enjoyed the Sheepshead content. Hope to see you target big Mangrove Snapper this winter!

[@jimlivingston7077]

Fiddlers are easy to catch. Find marshy area with lots of crab holes. Dig hole to bury bucket , top flush with ground, backfill so crabs can crawl up to bucket and jump in, to get the fish carcass in bottom of bucket. Come back before tide comes in . Crabs will fill bucket in time.

[@jeffforton6307]

Like your idea if I knew where to put it to remain undisturbed by other fishermen or critters. Also, could you use a top with cutouts for crab access? How long do you leave it deployed?

[@MartinVSmith6334]

Fun to watch!

[@bobwehner7881]

Another enjoyable outing. I'm kinda surprised that you don't hook the occasional black drum.

[@NeoDon1]

If you ever try mussels with the thread on hook, please let us know your thoughts, thank you.

[@yoink_fishing]

Hey John, hardcore Sheepshead fisherman here from Texas. I’ve been thinking of using Squid! Bet it’ll work since I catch them on frozen mussels from the grocery store.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

That would be too easy! I haven't tried it, but I should. Crabs are a pain.

[@yoink_fishing]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing i watch your sheep videos before bed. i used to watch it with my cuban gf in bed lol. i think you turned her on. she asked about you once.

[@johnhooperjr.480]

John, please share the make / model etc of the 1/8 oz hook. Doesn’t seem to match descriptions you list, TY

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

1/8-ounce 3/0 Owner.

[@johnhooperjr.480]

In the video you state 1/0 John

[@CharlotteHarborFisherman]

does that ePDL kayak set up have a spot lock?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Good meeting you yesterday! No spot lock on the epdl because the steering is all rudder, unlike the autopilot that turns the motor.

[@iamremyAdventures]

Nice

[@patmcdermott8547]

Those were some really quality sheepshead! I am assuming that the mud crabs in Florida don't burn your fingers like the crabs you were using up North, I never would have thought of that.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Not sure, since I kept the crabs in the water.

[@kayakjoe]

Nice job on the sheeps- how deep was the water? You are just bouncing off the bottom under the dock?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

4-5 feet. Just let it sit on the bottom.

[@jameshuner9119]

Do all sheephead have stripes? When I was a kid my dad would catch what he called a sheepshead in Michigan around Lake Erie

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I think that's a different kind of sheepshead, a freshwater species.

[@josephramennoodles]

If you don't like getting mud crabs try frozen sand fleas. Don't get the poached one though, they don't work as well. Last weekend the sand fleas caught more sheep's than mud crabs.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

That's a great tip. I tried them a couple years ago and they didn't work, but I'll revisit.

[@richardrubin120]

Can you explain after you cast, how do you fishing the crab? Do you reel it at all before fish hit?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

No, let it sit and make contact with it, but don't put pressure on it. You want the fish to pick it up and swim away without it feeling your line. When it swims away, set the hook hard.

[@hettro-cv6082]

Good video! Did you get a new Kayak?

[@thomasbrett6361]

I’ve been waiting the people in Florida using 15/20!LB test line and I’m still using 30 LB test line actually using the same gear that I use off of Block Island. The only problem is that I don’t get the long distance casting.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I always use 15 on the flats and 20 for big snook casting. I'm just using the 30 because I don't need to cast far and it's only about 5 feet deep and not a lot of current here.

[@charlesmurray1220]

Any surf / shore fishing in SW Florida? Neighborhood of?

[@s0meguy809]

I've never caught a sheepshead or targeted them. Do most docks and pylons hold them? I'm in SC though, not florida.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

To me they seem to be on many of the docks in Florida.

[@s0meguy809]

@JohnSkinnerFishing I'll have to get some fiddlers and give them a try. I used to see people fish for them off the piers here and there.

[@R.K-v2l]

You. Are. Frickin. Dinner. LOL

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

One of the few fish that I picture on the dinner plate before it's in the boat.

[@R.K-v2l]

@ Any chance of a catch, clean, cook with sheepshead? Thanks.

[@zackrepo97]

Hey skinner , what is the difference between the red inshore skinner rod and the light blue ML rod? Because I have 2 of the MH light blue ones already but want to get the lighter one as well , thank you.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

The ML rod is a lighter version of what you have, except an inch shorter and with a cork handle. The red rod is a 7-foot inshore spinning rod, more for casting than jigging. If you're doing under the boat stuff, you'd probably like the ML better. It's what I use for blackfish and seabass jigging.

[@zackrepo97]

@ ok perfect I will get the lighter version of the one I have and put a 2K tsunami evict on it , thank you have fun in Florida while we are cold here on Long Island lol !!

[@georgegd1204]

From the video, these mud crabs look like Asian crabs, are they the same, just called different. I remember when I was a young kid, we called Sheepshead, Convicts, because of the stripes.

[@pastapaul150]

Different, similar size

[@georgegd1204]

@@pastapaul150 Thanks

[@harrisgraves592]

You're dinner, hehehe.

[@snookguy4122]

Whats your though about using shrimp for Sheepshead?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

My experience is that shrimp is terrible compared to crab. This video looks at it under and above the water. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXWYlZpvgrqnos0

[@RustyShackle-v9u]

Shrimp works great just use pieces of shrimp instead of whole works better for sheepshead.

[@addicted2fishing119]

Have you ever tried live crawfish for sheepshead?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Don't know where I'd get those.

[@addicted2fishing119]

@ an Asian market

[@patmcdermott8547]

A buddy and I dragged a big crawfish around for about a day in the marsh in Port Sulphur, Louisiana. Caught plenty of redfish, trout and flounder on jigs, nothing even nibbled on the crawdad. Go figure!

[@addicted2fishing119]

@ I would think a small size crawfish would be candy to all fish… I used to do a ton of oil field work in Sulfur, swabbing… I lived in Abbeville

[@patmcdermott8547]

@@addicted2fishing119 I used to spend time with Mark Hebert, he did work on compressor platforms in the marsh. Good times!