Sheepshead have seven vertical and very prominent black stripes which stand out against a dull white, gray, or yellowish background. In North Carolina waters, sheepshead typically grow to lengths of 20 to 25 inches and will weigh between 5 and 15 pounds, but like with so many saltwater fish species, these numbers are an average and can fluctuate. The public frequently mistakenly identifies black drum as a sheepshead. Black drum also typically have small whiskers under their chin, while sheepshead do not. Redfish can be strong, stubborn fighters, with multiple runs during the battle. These stripes usually fade to dull grey as the fish grow from 12-24 inches in length. Black drum are a close relative of another delicious bottom feeder, the redfish. At first glance, juvenile Black Drum, (the slot sized keepers that are so good to eat!) Photo: Robert Michelson. ... i.e. Lastly, casting live shrimp around docks and canals is yielding black drum, sheepshead and some catch-and-release snook and reds. Be sure to visit these pages to better understand About Us, our Site Guidelines and to get an Overview of how NCangler.com operates. All sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible. His photography and articles have appeared in: Natural History, Field & Stream, National Geographic, TROUT, Highlights for Children, Nature Friend, New Hampshire Wildlife Journal, New York State Conservationist, Salt Water Sportsman, Rodale’s Scuba Diving, SCUBA and H2O Adventure magazines. In April 2012, sheepshead were officially removed from the council’s management plan,” said Anne Markwith, conservation and fisheries biologist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. But that’s where the similarities end. I've impaled a finger on them while cleaning before. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Fish America Foundation to produce a series of short educational videos on river restoration projects and fish and produced a documentary, “Clean Waters, New Harbor-The Boston Harbor Clean-up Project.”. The minimum size limit for sheepshead is 10 inches fork length, which is measured from the fork in the tail to the tip of the snout. The Pamlico Sound Independent Gill Net Survey is used as an aid while calculating the abundance of sheepshead stocks in the Pamlico Sound region. As they get older and larger, they leave the safety of the grassy flats and join adult schools in and around jetties, breakwaters and piers,” she said. In the 2016-2018 seasons, 60% or more of this species that were caught off the coast of North Carolina were released back into the ocean. Other drum species include white seabass, freshwater drum, whiting, and weakfish, among others. The meat of juvenile fish is very similar to that of the redfish. Capt. info@nccoast.org Markwith said that in North Carolina, commercial fishers mainly catch sheepshead as bycatch when using fishing nets. Juvenile red drum were high in number at a single site close to the inlet and associated with mud and rock. To catch sheepshead, a lot of fisherman use chum to attract the fish closer to their hooks. Physically, the two don’t look that much alike, with the drum’s mouth being placed more at the bottom of the fish facing downward to the bottom. Bait of choice fiddler crabs on carolina rig. Distinguishing juvenile black drum from sheepshead. White, flaky, very tasty. They’ll have all the gear you need, and know whether you can keep or release your catch. Sheepies are great eating. If all you see is head and no sides, you're better off throwing it back. Flatfish wrote:I always turn them loose because of all of the bones, caught a nice Sheephead last week but I don't think they are worth the trouble of scaling and they have too many rib bones to fillet. In contrast, juvenile black drum were found along marsh grass shorelines. His video work regularly appears in the New England Aquarium in Boston, and has been featured on the NOVA documentary "Are You Swimming In A Sewer?” He worked with the U.S. While the spadefish has vertical, dark bars running throughout its body like the sheepshead, the body more resembles that of a large freshwater angelfish, and physically looks nothing like a sheepshead. A mix-up can result in up to $255 in fines and court costs. Some sheepies are mistaken for juvenile black drum because of similar vertical black striping. If your bait or lure isn’t in the right place at the right time, you won’t be catching that black drum. Photo: Robert Michelson. The body of this fish is … Ouch. All rights reserved. Although developed for red drum, Paul Prudhomme’s famous “blackened redfish” recipe can be used for black drum with similar results. Jason Stock is heading offshore in search of big amberjack. Welcome aboard! In the Gulf of Mexico they are highly sought after, especially in the brackish waters of Texas. Commercial and recreational landings continue to be up and down over the years. Membership is free but required in order to post to our forums, classifieds, reviews and photo gallery. In North Carolina, mistaking a black drum for a sheepshead can lead to a hefty fine because of the difference in minimum size limits. Juveniles resemble Sheepshead in their coloration and general shape. As red drum migrate to the Gulf from Texas estuaries, the water takes on a reddish hue because of the large schools of fish; this usually takes place the last weeks of September into October. “This species is caught by recreational anglers with much enthusiasm. Sheepshead, convict fish, sheephead, sheepshead seabream, and southern sheeps head are common English language names. Photo: Robert Michelson. The overall coloration of an adult black drum is, well, black. A second fish that somewhat looks like a sheepshead is the Atlantic spadefish. Hold the sheepie head toward you. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is collecting information to better estimate the abundance of sheepshead in state waters. “A targeted spear fishery has grown over the past seven to eight years, as well as the gig fishery has become more popular during the same time period,” she said. 07/24/2020 by The best way to catch sheepshead recreationally is to use hook and line tackle, and this species is also becoming more popular to spear fishermen,” said Markwith. Juvenile Drum have black vertical stripes on dusky white sides, as do Sheepshead (which see). “Young sheepshead are of a higher density in grass flats and muddy bottom. It is the only species in the genus Pogonias. FDA warns children, pregnant women and lactating moms to NOT eat any king mackerel due to their very high mercury content. The size limit for black drum is no smaller than 14 inches and no more than 25 inches total length, except one fish per day may be more than 25 inches. … Most places practice catch-and-release throughout the year to protect the fishery, but there are seasons that you can keep your catch if they meet size and bag limit regulations. Anglers often use the same bait and lures for both black drum and red drum, however black drum need a different presentation. The size limit for black drum is no smaller than 14 inches and no more than 25 inches total length, except one fish per day may be more than 25 inches. Sheepshead and black drum tend to flock to these spots for breakfast. But sheepshead do not have the whiskers under the lower jaw. Description: High arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large. 252-393-8185. Juvenile fish have 4 to 5 bold vertical black bars on a light background and can be mistaken for Sheepshead at first glance, but are distinguished on closer inspection because sheepshead have teeth and black drum have chin barbels. In the past 10 years their popularity has grown exponentially. Look in the mouth: if you see choppers, you have a sheepshead. Grouper in North Carolina, Temporary Rules Needed to Protect Wetlands, Turtle Trash Collectors Adapt to COVID-19, Cleanup Organizers Adjust During COVID-19, Stormwater Issues Worsen As Climate Warms, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (SAFMC) Snapper/Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Pamlico Sound Independent Gill Net Survey, Commercial Fishing Funding Boards to Meet, Drumroll For NC’s Official Saltwater Fish, Circle Hooks Required Jan. 1 for Striped Bass, Marine Fisheries Director to Retire Jan. 31. Saltwater fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks … The best bait to use when pursuing sheepshead includes clams, barnacles, shrimp, fiddler crabs and oysters. No matter if you have a black drum or red drum at the end of your line, it’s a great day fishing. Their body shapes and fin structure are almost identical, but they are easy to tell apart from one another, both underwater and on shore. Sheepshead. A black drum, which can have stripes, swims past a juvenile sheepshead, shown in the background. The week of Feb. 9, amberjack catches were topping 90-pounds. Anglers can fish for red drum from the Texas Gulf Coast to the shores of the Atlantic, as far north as Massachusetts. The mouth is full of massive, protruding teeth that give the fish its name, and distinguish it from the juvenile Black Drum , the only fish with which it is likely to be confused. They are a bronze and golden color with a distinct black dot or dots near the start of the tail. Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb (2–14 kg) range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family with some specimens reaching excesses of 90 lbs (40 kg). The oldest reported sheepshead was 30 years old. Juvenile fish have 4 to 5 bold vertical black bars on a light background and can be mistaken for sheepshead at first glance, but are distinguished on closer inspection because sheepshead have teeth and black drum have chin barbells. Juvenile black drum’s mouths are facing downward, versus straight ahead for a sheepshead. Robert Michelson has been a professional photographer and videographer since 1974 and a certified SCUBA diver since 1979. They are often black and/or gray in color with juvenile fish having distinctive dark stripes over a gray body. This also allowed a greater number of fish to spawn before being caught by fishermen,” Markwith said. On closer inspection they can be distinguished by the fact sheepshead have teeth and black drums have chin barbells. They are also a pretty fish that, with their dark, vertical bars, look very much like a zebra that lives in the ocean. FishAnywhere.com is part of Anywhere Brands, LLC - the world's largest provider of outdoor adventure services. They range from South Florida north to Nova Scotia, Canada, and from the Atlantic coast of Brazil north to the Gulf of Mexico. There are several species of fish that belong to the drum family, but none as recognizable or targeted as the black drum and red drum. Inside has been producing, yes, sheepshead and black drum, along with reds and specks in the and around the marshes, and this is from the Neuse and New rivers. © 2020 AnywhereBrands. Red drum are known as active feeders, following the current and the food source. You can help us produce quality journalism and multimedia coverage of coastal issues, history and people. Like the commercial catch, landings have fluctuated from year to year, with a low of 19,285 pounds in 1983, and a high of 1,456,396 pounds in 2017,” Markwith said. Better numbers of sheepshead, whiting and a flounder are showing up around the bridges. In North Carolina, mistaking a black drum for a sheepshead can lead to a hefty fine because of the difference in minimum size limits. These fish are noisy, and known to make grunting (some may say “croaking” or “drumming”) sounds, hence the name. The barbels are used to find their favorite foods – crabs, worms, and mollusks – that live in the sediment. In North Carolina, mistaking a black drum for a sheepshead can lead to a hefty fine because of the difference in minimum size limits. So depending on where you’re fishing determines the average weight of the local redfish population. The division said 90,291 pounds of sheepshead were landed in 2018 by commercial fishers. Common methods include hand lines, spinning tackle and cane poles, which allow feeling when the fish strikes their bait. They are more of a silvery-bronze in coloration, and their bodies give-off an iridescent spectrum of colors when struck by any light source, such as a dive light while scuba diving. As sheepshead continue to grow, they relocate into adult habitat including rocks, pilings, shipwrecks, jetties and oyster reefs. Though most specimens are generally found in the 5 to 30 lb range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family with some specimens reaching 90 lbs. This includes pound nets, gill nets and seines. These are a challenging fish to hook because they strike and take bait very quickly. Juvenile black drum typically weigh between 5 to 10 pounds and are often confused with sheepshead because of their black and white vertical stripes. This is a technique used during cooler months when the reds are closer to shallow waters, sometimes less than 2 to 3 feet. Even though there has been a generally downward trend over the past five years, both commercial and recreational fisheries saw landings increase in the 2017 fishing season. Or hire a professional captain to get you hooked up. Instead, the fish tends to move in east-west movements around inlets during the fall and winter, when adult sheepshead migrate out into the ocean to spawn,” said Markwith. Juvenile black drum’s mouths are facing downward, versus straight ahead for a sheepshead. Only novices will be confused, however, because Drum lack the prominent sheep-like teeth that give the Sheepshead its name. “Management of sheepshead was first done as part of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (SAFMC) Snapper/Grouper Fishery Management Plan. If there is one distinct difference between red drum and black drum it would be the size and shape; adult black drums are typically wider, longer, and heavier. It is important to keep pressure on the fish, especially if fishing near a dock or other structure. Juvenile black drum typically weigh between 5 to 10 pounds and are often confused with sheepshead because of their black and white vertical stripes. The teeth distinguish the sheepshead from a juvenile black drum, which shares a similar coloration pattern. This sight is known as a “tailing” red, and is exactly what inshore and backwater anglers are looking for. It costs about $500 to produce this and all other stories on CRO. Strong Angler Cameron Parsons with a nice kingfish. Small to medium sized sheepshead are often confused with juvenile black drum (puppy drum). Black drum simply use their weight to fight. Anglers typically use cut bait, shrimp, sand fleas or blue crabs as bait, and it is very important to keep the bait on the bottom where the drum feed. Coastal Review Online is a nonprofit news service and a member of the North Carolina Press Association. Black drum take a much more passive approach: They simply face the opposite way the current is moving, and let the food come to them. The world record black drum is 113 lbs. “In North Carolina waters, sheepshead are year-round residents who move from inshore brackish waters to offshore rocky bottom,” said Markwith. Total length is measured along the midline from the tip of the compressed tail to the tip of the snout, according to the Division of Marine Fisheries. Younger fish prefer shallow, well-vegetated environments, as well as solid habitat that afford protection to smaller sheepshead. 5.9k members in the saltwaterfishing community. Robert Michelson, Sheepshead sport dark-colored, vertical bars, prominent teeth and a forked tail. Fishing Tips and Facts: The vertical bars on juvenile black drum are somewhat similar to those on sheepshead and spadefish. All rights reserved. Juvenile black drum are easily mistaken for sheepshead so keep a lookout for the barbels. It can live for up to 20 years in favorable conditions and can reach a size of up to 91 cm (3 ft) and a weight of 16 kg (35 lb). Rarely, anglers will also encounter a “spotless” red. Similar Fish: Red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus; the vertical bars on juvenile black drum are somewhat similar to those on sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus; and spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber. These stripes usually fade to dull grey as the fish grow from 12 in … On this trip, he used fiddler crabs, which are versatile for both species. Redfish typically run your line and may thrash to toss the hook. “In November 2013, the rule was approved, and in 2015 the commission implemented the new rules that included size, bag and trip limits to prevent too many fish from being removed from the biomass stock. They are known for putting up quite the fight. The Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that more research is needed that includes the creation of a tagging program to aid in figuring out where these fish move to during the course of a year and to help calculate juveniles’ and adults’ relative abundance. This fish is a close cousin of the much smaller scup. As they grow older, the stripes fade and the two are easier to tell apart. While redfish are on the move, anglers will present their bait offering on the surface of the water, allowing the bait to drift along the tide as the fish are eating. There are good numbers of Spanish mackerel up in the bay. Because of this decision, North Carolina’s authority over this species was found to be invalid. Puppy drum, the ones that are about 20 inches, make the perfect eating size. Commercial landings have had the typical up-and-down fluctuation seen by the majority of fish species along the coast during the past 10 years, with the highest numbers of landings in the 2013 and 2014 fishing seasons. Black drum are biting at the bridges. Black drum and sheepshead are biting around the bridges, along the south jetty, and the Melody Lane Pier. Normally we fish on the kayaks, but did some fishing on the pier too! In fact, the largest red drum on record was a 94lb beast caught in Avon, NC in 1984. The reason so many inshore anglers love to target puppy drum is because they make great table fare. Schedule your trip from February, March, or April and fish the shallow waters to start your black drum fishing adventure. So are the smaller black drum. can be mistaken for the less tasty and harder to hook Sheepshead. Red drum are also known as redfish, puppy drum, channel bass, or simply “reds”. “Migration patterns are based on mark-recapture studies that have shown no large-scale north-to-south movements. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy, Search and book today with FishAnywhere.com. And although there currently is no federal regulation governing the sheepshead fishery, there are rules that apply in North Carolina, and it’s important to know the difference between sheepshead and another fish that bears a resemblance. If you do happen to catch a white and black striped fish and you’re not sure if it’s a sheepshead or black drum, check the mouth: Sheepshead have human-like teeth, while black drum do not. As redfish feed on crustaceans, their tail often breaks the water’s surface. Is it a Black Drum or is it a Sheepshead? The state produced a graphic to help anglers tell the difference. “There also needs to be a continuation of the monitoring of recreational and commercial landings, and updating the basic biology as it pertains to maturity schedule, collection of age and sex information on the sheepshead fishery, and studying spawning areas and collecting data on their life history,” she said. Newport, North Carolina 28570 Make sure you know your area’s rules before heading out. This accounted for a combined weight of 826,029 pounds. Search and book today with FishAnywhere.com! tip@nccoast.org, 3609 N.C. 24, 11 votes, 13 comments. “Recreational harvest accounted for 84% of North Carolina’s total harvest in pounds from 2009 to 2018, and 89% of the 2018 harvest. Sheepshead are comparatively large and long-lived members of the porgy, or scup family. My dad and I caught what turned out to be a Black Drum (we thought it was a Sheepshead, well I did, he swore it was a margate) After some research, we decided it was definitely a Black Drum. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission requested a rule in November 2012 for landing sheepshead in state waters. “This species grows quickly until around 6 years of age, then the growth rate slows down. Fishing for sheepshead by recreational fishers has gone down since 2008, however there was a spike of activity in 2013 when the federal government dropped protections for this fish. The meat is mostly white with a good flavor. At 1 year old, sheepshead are approximately 10 inches in length; 2 years old, 12 inches; and all sheepshead are sexually mature by the time they reach 3-5 years old and attain a length of about 14 inches,” said Marwith. You can fish from the shore, a pier, a kayak or boat to get in on the action. Scup are much smaller and are not seen much larger than about 10-12 inches in length. Adult black drum grow larger in the Atlantic than they do in the Gulf. This species spawns offshore during spring months and then returns to coastal and estuarine habitats to feed and continue growing as youngsters. Sheepshead are not the first fish that comes to mind for recreational fishers, but anglers love these saltwater fish because they are a lot of fun to catch. Black vertical bands stand out against dull white, gray or yellowish background. Sheepshead do not have these very obvious “whiskers”, as shown above. In 2018, 343,772 fish were caught equaling 735,738 pounds of sheepshead that were landed recreationally, while 524,967 fish were released, Markwith reported. Juvenile black drum’s mouths are facing downward, versus straight ahead for a sheepshead. When fishing for sheepshead, he recommends holding the line against the rod above the reel to feel the nib that sheepshead are known for — using those buckteeth. Hey, I have a question about Sheepshead and lookalikes. Contact the editor King mackerel has one of the highest levels of mercury out of all of the popular saltwater fish. The size limit for black drum is no smaller than 14 inches and no more than 25 inches total length, except one fish per day may be more than 25 inches. Sheepshead are good table fare and easy to clean and fillet. As sheepshead continue to be invalid backwater anglers are looking for lookout for the less tasty and harder to sheepshead. 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