Baaa! The sheep are coming

They may not be around in great numbers just yet, but it's coming up on sheepshead season for fishermen in and around Anna Maria Island.

Within the next few weeks, look for sheepshead to gather around rocks and bridge and dock pilings, feeding off barnacles and crustaceans. They can be tricky to catch, but here are some tips and advice on how to snag one.

As far as bait goes, bring specialty ones these fish cannot resist, which include crushed mussels and clams, fiddler crabs, pelagic red crabs, sand crabs, sand fleas and shrimp. They are used to eating things with shells on, so soft, pre-cut baits won't be to their liking. Shrimp is perhaps the most effective bait of all, though, if you have a good source.

For rigs, use either a sliding sinker held about 2 ft. up the line from the hook by a small split shot or barrel swivel. This is good in shallow water and off piers and jetties.

In deeper water, reverse dropper-loops are more effective. This is made up by tying the hook to the end of the line and hanging a weight from a dropper-loop a couple of feet up the line. Pin a shrimp, sand flea, crab, piece of mussel or other bait on to the hook and drop it down on to the reef. Sheepshead feed by biting crustaceans off the rocks so it is best to fish right on the bottom or not more than a few feet above it.

There you go. Now get out there and round up some sheepshead.