The water is getting warmer. The bait will be here soon. In the meantime, the sheepshead are moving into the Bay, and make a great target on these warm sunny days.

My buddy Tim came over from Tampa, and we had our usual routine of digging mud and fiddler crabs from the Corey Landings area.  A few dozen select shrimp from Gulf to Bay Bait & Tackle, and we were good to go. We fished the pilings in Blind Pass in the northern tip of St. Pete Beach.

Sheepshead, while not thick, could still be seen cruising among the pilings, picking at barnacles. And our bait. We spent the afternoon hauling in half a dozen, up to 18″. Good fun on light tackle! We then cleaned ’em and headed to a party at a friend’s condo, where we had blackened sheepshead, and sauteed sheepshead with fennel. Very tasty, and it doesn’t get any fresher.

On another note, I saw a dozen undersized, out-of-season grouper carcasses filleted and discarded at Blind Pass. Unbelievable. When you go fishing, make sure you know the laws and follow them, please.

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