Newport...Sheepheads come to play....

[dngayan]

I went out with my buddy today out of Newport. We went to the rockfish grounds. On the way out I would drop down looking for sand bass. Not too many bites, so I decided to continue to the rockfish area. Just as I was about to reel my line in, I get bit. Nice pull with some head shakes. I thought it was a nice sized sand bass. To my surprise, it was a 17 inch Sheephead. My 1st Sheephead!

I then made it to the rockfish area and picked around at some reds here and there. I caught limits of mixed rockfish. I decided to work my way back it. I got a big bite and set the hook on something that felt decent sized. Lots of pull and head shakes. I was excited to see what it was and then it came to the surface...It was a 4ft shark!

I cut my line and released the shark. I dropped down my back-up rod and put it in the rod holder, while I re-tied my tackle. With in a minute, I get another big bite. Big head shakes and pulling pretty good I had just caught a shark and figured it was just another shark.

As I was fighting the fish, I thought at least I'm getting a good fight today. I crank it up pretty quickly because I thought it was just a shark.

To my surprise, I see it come up to the surface.... it's a big Sheephead!



I had never caught a sheephead before today. Limits of rockfish with 2 sheephead.

It was a great day on the water.