UTERSheepshead fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, sheepshead are around November–April but never at the peak of their run, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: A few at the bridges in winter.
Not in The Florida Keys this month.
Sheepshead in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryAroundA few at the bridges in winter.
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish sheepshead near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 695 artificial reef, 565 marker / buoy, 340 wreck, 339 dock / pilings, 88 bridge spots in the The Florida Keys map area — the kinds sheepshead hold on.
What to use for sheepshead
- Fiddler crabsA #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Sand fleas (mole crabs)On a small circle hook or a pompano rig, digger-end first — the pompano and whiting bait.
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–1/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 48–74°F water, best at 54–66°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch sheepshead in The Florida Keys?
Sheepshead are in The Florida Keys November–April, but the calendar never marks a peak here. January: A few at the bridges in winter.
Where do sheepshead hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on bridge, artificial reef, wreck, marker / buoy — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for sheepshead in The Florida Keys?
Live bait: fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas (mole crabs), grass shrimp. Fiddler crabs: A #1 hook through the back corner of the shell, dropped tight to the piling — the sheepshead bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–1/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for sheepshead in The Florida Keys?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores sheepshead for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about sheepshead · The Florida Keys, the whole year