Since flounder was closed down, I gathered up a few dozen fiddlers and went hunting for sheep. I went to an inshore wreck but was getting robbed blind. Every time I felt a bite, it was gone. I then deduced that there was a swarm of triggers, so I switched from my 3/0 hook to a 1/0. I then proceeded to bail triggers, including a 3.5 lber.

After an hour and a half, I was thinking about repositioning when I noticed that I was drifting. I pulled in the rope and found that it had been worn through (must have been rubbing on some part of the wreck). So I lost my my wreck anchor that I managed to keep for at least 12 years

With no wreck anchor, I was limited as to where I could fish. I then decided to fish some pilings that have been productive in the past. Well, I promptly got snagged on the bottom and tightened my drag to get it free. Got it loose and dropped down again. After 5 minutes I felt a bite and set the hook. The pole doubled over and the fight was on! I got it halfway up with a couple of small drag pulls, when she ran straight to the bottom with the drag screaming. POP! Reeled the line in and saw that my Owner hook was straightened out - I forgot to reset my drag! That would no doubt be a citation had I got it up!

Believe it or not, that happened to me TWICE yesterday! I am becoming a doddering fool in my old age. Ended up with one nice 9 lb for the table.

As an aside, I only keep one of these big ones per trip. These big sheepshead are very old fish and they don't grow fast. Even though there is a 4 per person limit, there is plenty of meat on one to satisfy a family. I am NOT impuning anyone who chooses to keep their limit - I just go a different route.

Nice.

I wish there were a few more guys like you out there BB.

My brother took me out on his boat for a few hours yesterday around the Hampton bar.

Funny thing is we watched a group of 3 guys in a Boston Whaler keeping every flounder they caught. Even the ones that were below 18.5". So sad.

Nice fish Billy,this just goes to show that not every boat does the wrong thing and maybe with a little more people like you we can find fish of that size for years to come!!!!

You should have called the game warden on them. I would have cause "Homie don't play that."

Pretty work on the sheep BB. They have eluded me thus far this year. Good philosphy on the keep ratio. I usually only kill one or 2 per year. That wreck, if its the same i'm thinking of, has claimed 5 of my anchors in the last 2 years.
Frozen fiddlers work for you...?

I would have called the cops on the poachers as well. There is nothing more frustrating than to see law breakers get away with it.

Gordy, I ended up breaking down and got muddy for a few dozen fiddlers. The frozen are still in the freezer - untested. And as to the wreck, 6 times out of ten it will produce a citation . I've anchored up there many times with no problems but I guess every wreck anchor eventually has its day!