Poppin' & Droppin' - BEST Sheepshead Bait for Winter

We tried a variety of baits for Sheepshead at the end of January here in NC. Live Mud Crabs, frozen Shrimp, frozen Sandfleas and live Urchins were on the menu. Check out this video to see which one worked the best. You can use crab parts, shrimp heads or whatever you have lying around to chum for these fish during the winter. Can't hurt anything. Sheepshead and Black Drum freeze well, so go ahead and keep a few. Get out there and be somebody!
16' Sundance Skiff, 30HP Mercury
Shimano Torium 20HG - Penn Carnage II Jigging 6'2"
Penn Fathom 25NLD2 - Shimano Trevala Jigging Rod 5'8" Heavy, Medium Fast
100 Pound Power Pro, 50 Pound Fluorocarbon Leader
Double Hook Carolina Rig taught in "Early Spring Sheepshead" episode at 2:38
Fresh bait matters. Catch Mud Crabs under "stuff", below the high tide line (Wear Gloves, oyster cuts are nasty). The purple crabs with spots and striped legs are stone crabs and are illegal to possess.
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[@csaarsenal]

Dude when you first started this channel and wrote the jingle I loved it, but never imagined you would be at 177 thousand subscribers. Amazing. Keep it going and it can be your full time gig.

[@yankeeredneck6017]

Mud crabs are definitely the ticket. Can’t wait to get back out.

[@dcata251]

Please another video on mud crabs. How much time do you dedicate to catching bait. How would you keep them overnight for fishing plans the next day?

[@ronalddills4566]

Always enjoy seeing your videos . I wish I could catch sheep’s li you do .😊

[@pstonedawg9576]

Great video Captain , tight lines !!

[@billybell5286]

You are right about hard to hook. You almost need to set the hook just as he smells it. I was 40 before I figured it out.

[@yankeeredneck6017]

Really good day! Was hoping for a big taug…next time.

[@jeffreyswanson227]

Another winner!

[@johnnyearliwine6698]

Great video. Wish had some bridges to fish like you. Waiting for next video. keep it up. great job.

[@FrankLadd]

So easy to get bites, yet so hard to get the hookset right.

[@mwcubed.]

Have you posted your full jingle somewhere? It’s amazing. I’m going to be in the area next week, is the fishing around Piver’s any good?

[@offkilterfishing]

If you watch some of my original videos you can hear the full version of the song at the end.

[@fredholland5723]

You to teach Joseph some of your techniques 😂

[@fredholland5723]

Joseph came around 😅

[@patrickpixle6380]

Love your content! Any pointers on some good spots to check for mud crabs in the Beaufort / Morehead City area?

[@offkilterfishing]

Check description

[@jefffriend2143]

Where in NC? i just moved out from California and sheephead are a bucket list fish

[@offkilterfishing]

This is central NC, Sheepshead are prevalent all along the coast in blue water near structure.

[@jefffriend2143]

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll get out there after I get my kayak out of SC

[@jefffriend2143]

@offkilterfishing do you take folks out with you? I would live to learn how to cath them. I did a lot of fishing in the pacific for lingcod and rockfish. I have rods and reels, just no knowledge yet. I went out of muerils inlet for bull reds in oct. Biggest was 41 in

[@j.w.1861]

Never have “left over” stone crab claws

[@pnuttheclownh2254]

nice, BUT HOW CAN STONE CRAB CLAWS BE LEFTOVER?

[@offkilterfishing]

I put them up and forgot them in the back of my freezer from a while back. Put them to good use. I usually freeze my shrimp heads and use them but I didn't get any this year.

[@mwcubed.]

Your videos helped me catch my first sheepshead, I ended the day with two keepers. Now I want to try for black drum. Pivers island bridge or Newport river pier?

[@offkilterfishing]

Black drum can be tough to target this time of year. May through November are the best times to find them. I just stay on the hunt year round and feel lucky to find them throughout the winter. Good luck!

[@keepingupwithme5503]

What state?

[@offkilterfishing]

North Carolina

[@Ajn23212]

I’m in the area often. Where do you get your mudcrabs

[@moritzboyzadventurez4523]

What are leftover stone crabs??!! 🤣

[@kkatzburg]

Just curious ... Are you waiting for them to swim away with the bait before you set on them ? Or is it just a feel thing where you feel them chewing then set ? I do a lot of tautog fishing up north but have never targeted sheepshead. Thanks in advance.

[@offkilterfishing]

I let them bump at it for a bit and wait for the rod tip to drop. You really have to get lucky to get a good hook set. It sure is fun though.

[@kkatzburg]

@@offkilterfishing Cool. TY. Appreciate the response.

[@YourSundaySchool]

I’ve got to get back down there. The island behind the chemical storage has thousands of these white or light colored crabs. Do you know if they’re legal to use?

[@offkilterfishing]

If they are running around on land then they are fiddler crabs most likely and they are legal to use.

[@donaldtruell3610]

So a drum and a sheepshead hit about the same way ?

[@bradleymerritt8]

Hey, could a 16 foot Jon boat go out at bridges like that? Also how can you locate sheepshead during the winter.

[@offkilterfishing]

I don’t recommend it honestly. Boats fly through there even though it is a no wake zone. I don’t have a fish finder, I just fish an area and see what’s biting.

[@kirkdavis2881]

50 bucks worth of chum...lol

[@offkilterfishing]

I caught them, so it was free...