Description:
basic silvery color; with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black
bands on sides, not always the same on both sides; prominent
teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no
barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and
anal fins.
Similar Fish:
black drum, Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish,
Chaetodipterus (black drum have barbels on lower jaw,
sheepshead do not; vertical barring on sides of black drum
and spadefish disappear as fish mature; spadefish have
small, brush-like teeth).
Where found:
INSHORE species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal
creeks; moves NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for
spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs and around
navigation markers.
Size:
INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds.
*Florida
Record: 12 lbs., 2 ozs.
Remarks:
feeds on mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and
barnacles; famed nibblers, prompting the saying that
"anglers must strike just before they bite."
* The
Florida records quoted are from the Department of
Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The
records are provided as only as a benchmark.
