How To Cook Sheepshead Step By Step (Delicious & Easy Way)

WARNING: This video will make you hungry...
Wintertime means sheepshead fishing, and catching sheepshead means fire up the grill, dinner is going to be good tonight!
We recently went "grocery shopping" under one of the nearby bridges and caught a few keeper sheepshead to bring home for dinner.
Sheepshead are a delicious white fish and can taste great by cooking them a number of ways.
However, in this video, I'm going to show you a way that is both delicious and quick.
Plus, there's very little cleanup, so no need to worry about a messy kitchen afterward.
In addition to learning how to grill sheepshead to perfection, you'll also learn:
- How to prepare sheepshead filets to maximize freshness and flavor (without the fishy taste)
- What not to do when cooking sheepshead
- How to tell when they’re done (so you don’t burn and dry them out)
And much more.
Have any questions about cooking sheepshead?
Let me know in the comments below!
If you want to learn how to catch sheepshead (so you can have meals like this), check out our guide to catching sheepshead: bit.ly/2u9UGDj
And if you want to get the best fishing spots, tips, and strategies, plus discounts on fishing gear you're probably already buying, join us in the Insider Club: bit.ly/3bQ7Mqs

[@Saltstrong]

Want to get the best fishing spots, tips, and strategies, plus discounts on fishing gear you're probably already buying? Join us in the Insider Club: bit.ly/3bQ7Mqs

[@vnicknguyen]

I love to de-scale it then pan fry it whole. Eat with some rice, soy sauce, fish sauce and chili

[@alanjohnson8396]

Excellent Luke. Thanks Sir. I just shared this with some friends who ironically had asked me just the other day about catching and eating sheepshead.

[@Saltstrong]

How cool! Glad to see that this video came out at the right time.

[@gonehomewoodsman9059]

Thank you for the video!!!

[@jamesdees6166]

got me salivating here...

[@timothyogden9761]

Thank you. Learned a couple of key tips, i.e., salting the water after cleaning and removing the blood line. WTG!

[@jonathanseagull.4551]

We used to catch them with Fiddler crabs off the Bridges in St .Petersburg. Fun fishing , occasional big Drums too. Man I miss that night fishing Thanks guys for bringing back great childhood memories .

[@Saltstrong]

Glad to see that you enjoyed this video James! Thanks for making time to leave the comment.

[@AustinFL]

Fellow st pete fisherman here 🎣

[@ericjchastain]

@saltstrong love tips and like sheepshead on the half shell leave scales on and put on grill scale side down with butter and fresh garlic you lose most of the scales on the pit but keeps fish really moist and holds fish together and scales keep it from burning to works really well with any fish with large scales like sheep head and black red drum and snapper.

[@kevinbentley3254]

Love cooking sea food on my Treager. My favorite way to cook.

[@texassaltwaterlife4374]

Great vid,got my package a week ago can't wait to try those plastics

[@curttimmbch]

Definitely gonna try this. I've only ever grilled them on the half shell. They are excellent on the half shell and I know they are gonna be great like this. Can't wait.

[@ARCSTREAMS]

half shell?? these are not clams lol

[@nozrep]

caught my first sheepie and my first spanish mackerel on the same day in Louisiana in July 2023 and immediately made ceviche the same day. Was awesome. Though I did choose for the future that, I will just cook my sheeps, and cevichize my spanishes

[@Saltstrong]

Nice work, glad we could help!

[@edgarashford2283]

Looks Delicious 👍👍👍

[@jayredstone107]

Looks excellent wish i was along in the video to taste 😁

[@baldemrbuentello6910]

Looks good

[@gregbastin3609]

Love your vids! My wife and I fish for Sheepshead in Port Canaveral, Florida.

[@douglasfields3942]

Looking forward to the free lures for catching red fish. I like the catch and cook series. Gives me ideas of how to cook the saltwater fish I catch. Thanks Guys. (Salt Strong - Texas)

[@Saltstrong]

Glad to see that you enjoyed this sheepshead cooking video! I hope you enjoy those lures as much as I do. Tight Lines!

[@andrewseeker6970]

Nice explanation 😎

[@johnfontenot7861]

Luke and Joe are the best.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the support!

[@joeeliff4233]

WELL DONE👍

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks!

[@brethamilton3603]

Yum

[@JGW845]

Luke, the viewer who pays close attention to detail noticed the salt you used did not contain iodine. Although you did not mention it, using non-iodized salt is essential! Iodine will impart an unpleasant taste to the fish. Be sure to use non-iodized table salt, Kosher salt, or sea salt when brining fish (or any meat).

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment!

[@garyschuller6981]

Nicely done. Was always curious about placing fillets in saltwater or not. Thx again and welcome to St. Pete neighbor.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Gary!

[@jonathanseagull.4551]

BREAM OF THE SEA, Sheepshead eat crabs etc . Not really bottom feeders , so they are good eating. You guys are making me hungry .

[@Saltstrong]

@@jonathanseagull.4551 Haha! These cooking videos always make me hungry when watching them:)

[@1cspringer]

I could not get the bbq to light so I cooked it on the stove top. It was awesome! Melts in your mouth.

[@Saltstrong]

Awesome!

[@John-yt5zr]

A dull knife will cut you faster than a sharp one. Look into a lansky knife sharpening system, it produces a fantastic edge and it’s very easy to use.

[@Snookchaser007]

Absolutely nothing more dangerous than a dull knife. For fillet knife sharpening all you need is a 2 sided whetstone 5 passes and your back to a razor.

[@GreatWyrmLord]

Do you have such cooking tips on the Insider Club? Do you have a video on shore cooking?

[@Saltstrong]

We do not keep any cooking tips private for the Insider Club. The core things the Insider Club members get that the public doesn't get is (1) the latest feeding trends on exactly what types of spots are holding the most fish every week along with the top lures to catch them, and (2) group discounts on fishing tackle that more than pays for the club dues for many members.

[@dustinriddell8374]

I use foil under mine on the grill

[@Saltstrong]

Awesome!

[@alexperez-qh2qh]

Nice Luke, can I find that seasoning down here in Texas?? Does it matter how salt combine with the cold water??? Have to try it that way.

[@eddielopezz69]

alex perez I’ve found the redfish seasoning at my local heb. Pretty sure you can find the seafood seasoning as well.

[@alexperez-qh2qh]

I will have to check it out at my local heb. Thanks brother.

[@webincomeincome8767]

Great video but only critique is to use ice only to keep fish cold. No matter if salt or fresh water because water still reduces flavor.

[@kilgore5075]

How did you prepare the potatoes? Just sliced and put on grill or did you season them or add any butter or olive oil? Thank you... i just got a Traeger so still exploring cooking ideas

[@BoxBoyz813]

What a dumb question

[@russell7140]

We catch a bunch of sheepshead in Lake Erie while walleye fishing but no one keeps them, not even to just try. Might have to keep a few to try them out.

[@coreydemulling2055]

these are slat water sheeps totally different species your talking about a fresh water drum... and they do not eat well unless you pickle them.

[@coreydemulling2055]

salt

[@russell7140]

@@coreydemulling2055 Good to know

[@jerrywise2927]

Where is the link to the free lures?

[@ReelinTension]

Looks delicious. Just a helpful tip get rid of that bubba blade and get you a dexter and a knife sharpener. You can think me later.😂

[@marcosmartinez6028]

See good

[@gdv4612]

Forget the fillet the best fish I ever ate besides cobia was deep fried whole sheephead

[@edmoore3910]

dont need spices with drum. just fillet the white meat. as good as bluegill.

[@edmoore3910]

these are just as good as bass..bluegill..or crappie. i only keep them.up to 16 inches long.

[@PartisanOgrae]

This is way more work than necessary. Just leave those suckers on the half shell with some butter and seasoning on top on the grill till they flake down to the rib bottoms.

[@pastorjustin824]

Use bloodline meat for fishbait???

[@proteusxavier9477]

It's true! That cook's tax is a thing.

[@justinkoch6589]

I like to poach them.with brown suger and last in water

[@touxiong7050]

You need a sharper knife