GALVESTON

Reported by CAPT. DEREK YORK

Spawning Sheep and Drum

 

WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN going into the Spring and hoping for good weather and light winds to help make our time out on the water more enjoyable. But often, it is usually windy this time of year and always seems to be blowing on the weekends when most of us can get out! Springtime brings on some great fishing and the return of lots of people to the bays to enjoy their Spring Break on the water. The good thing is, it’s the perfect time to get out and catch a lot of fish both big and small and have a fun day on the water. 

Two of my main targets are entering their spawning season during this time, the sheepshead and the black drum. Both can be caught around structure from the shoreline such as rocks, pilings and passes. And when I’m out on the boat I concentrate on the Galveston jetties, deep ledges and old gas well pads. Live shrimp and fresh cracked blue crab are my go-to baits for both species. 

Sheepshead are typically caught on bottom setups like a knocker rig with live shrimp up close to rocks and structure. If you have never caught a sheepshead, they are generally light biters. Think freshwater crappie, but much bigger! Although sometimes, they will hit hard like redfish. These fish are probably my favorite to catch and favorite to eat from the bay next to flounder. During this spawning season, they tend to stack up heavily around the gulf passes on the rocks and some days you can catch as many as you want. Currently, the regulations allow you to keep 5 fish per person with a 15-inch minimum size. 

Black drum are also starting their spawning season this time of year and man are these big fish fun to catch. My setups are super simple for these fish and pretty much any setup will work. You just need a large circle hook and heavy weight to keep your rig on the bottom. I fish in deeper water usually up to 30 feet sometimes and the current can be fast at times. The main thing for these fish, which can reach up to 50 pounds or more, is fresh bait. You can tell the difference between having good fresh bait versus old bait with most of the scent washed out. I am constantly checking baits to keep them fresh. Some of my favorite areas to target these fish are no secret spots for sure. The concrete ship off Seawolf Park, Texas City Dike, the gas wells area off the end of the dike near Bolivar and around the jetties and Pelican Island bridge are all great places to catch these big black drum. 

These aren’t the only fish around this time of year though, as the trout and redfish bite can be great in the bay. So, make sure to get out and take a kid fishing when you can! I’ll see you on the water.