Savannah, 10/24

[dogonenuts]

I usually fish the Big Bend, but ventured off the coast of Savannah last Sunday and figured I'd share my experience with you guys since I figure a lot of you guys are like me and do more viewing than fishing this time of year. Anyway, we left Macon about 3:45 Sunday to meet a couple of local Savannah boys. One had caught about 300 fiddlers on Sat. We headed out about 0700. It was pretty chilly, but the mighty Atlantic was about like a toddler's wading pool. We went out about 10 miles to some public numbers. Found the one spot that wasn't already covered with a boat and anchored up about 50 feet over an old barge.

This was my first time looking for sheepshead and I didn't really know what to expect. My Macon friend who is an accomplished bass fisherman quickly had his trout rod bowed over but was able to make short work of about a 3-4 lb bandit. I was quickly frustrated as the fiddlers were good for about 2 bumbps from the little black bass before the hook was clean needing reloading. Another little one came over the gunnel at the other end of the boat before I ffelt a slight persistent tug on the line. I set the hook grouper style and had good pulling fish headed off the bottom. He must have felt the hook about this time because he quickly did his grouper imitation and was pulling my drag at will back to the bottom. He did this about 4 times before I started gaining ground for good. I am looking over the side into some pretty clear water and I see about 20 feet down what looks like a vertically banded black and white stingray, the thing is so big. I am wondering what we will do for a net. We manage to wedge him in and he comes into the boat and into the cooler. I didn't realize these things actually got this big. This one tipped the scales at 9 lbs 6 oz. Well to make a full day's story short, we never threw out the marker bouy again though we did have to reset the anchor a time or two. Four of us boated 13 keepers and threw back a few more than that. We went through all @300 crabs. It seemed you would catch a fish for every dozen or so crabs-I think the math works out about like that. I got the bragging rights with one that went over 11 lbs and was huge. The others were 2-4 lbs. I only had the cell phone camera so unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share. Next time I will.

Do the sheepshead aroun St. Marks get as big as the ones I saw out of savannah?

Can't wait to get down that way in April.


Nuts

[GAJOEY]

Good deal nice day on the water

[SHOWBOAT]

nice report. Sounds like a good time. Any pics of the beast?

[snatch-n-reel]

Sweet Sheepshead

[Eerman]

11lb sheepshead...that's a nice one for sure

[NoleFear]

Sounds like a good time. 11lb sheepie

[birddog]

I believe Capt. Pat and the Woods and Water Team regularly catch sheephead in the 12 lb. range on Steinhatchee reef. Good report Nuts.

[Mook!]

Yah - 11lbs - that's nice. I ain't personally ever seen one that big, but yah offshore like that they get bigger. My brother has pulled them out like that over in the Destin area 3-10 miles offshore. Congrats on your braggin rights and thanks for sharing!

[tin can]

That's a big sheepie. Glad ya got to go.

[flounderpounder]

Nice report, they get like that around Mayport Jetties, it makes for a great day fishing.