52 GAME FISH OF FLORIDA. 



the roots of these are in the water, and are covered 

 with barnacles,, which, attract the sheepshead. From 

 half flood to high water they usually bite most eagerly, 

 though here, as elsewhere, there sometimes comes a day 

 on which fish do not feed affected, probably, by the 

 wind or weather. 



I am disposed to believe, with [Morris, that the 

 sheepshead found on the northern coast are the surplus 

 production of more southern waters. In April, the 

 sheepshead on the coast of Florida become heavy with 

 spawn, and lose their fine flavor. I think they spawn 

 in May. We often take them quite small, only a few 

 ounces in weight. Most fishermen use a hand line, 

 with two hooks resting on the bottom, but anglers find 

 more sport in the use of rod and reel. A four-pound 

 sheepshead will make a strong fight, and a pair of them 

 will try the angler s skill to save both. Owing to the 

 hard pavement of enamelled teeth in the mouth, it is 

 difficult to hook this fish, and when hooked his jaws are 

 so strong that few hooks can resist their power. After 

 trying many kinds I have found but two that I could 

 depend upon. One is the hook used at Newport for 

 tautog, and the other is figured in Norris book under 

 the name of the Virginia hook. It is the best of the 

 two, having a sharp cutting edge to the barb, which 

 gives a better penetration. Sinkers of different weights 

 are required to suit the force of the tide at different 

 times, the sheepshead being a bottom fish. Two, four, 

 and six ounces will be found sufficient. AVe usually 

 averaged a dozen fish to a line in one tide, even when 

 half a dozen persons were fishing from the boat, most of 

 whom were unskilled. I have taken twenty-live shecps- 

 hcad in a tide to my own rod, and I have known two 



