All along the Atlantic coast, from our northernmost states through Florida, along the gulf states, and all the way south to Brazil you'll find sheepshead. They thrive in salty estuaries and have a low tolerance for polluted waters, which is why you'll find them in abundance in the Folly Beach area. It is our local oyster population we have to thank for our clean waters, but I'll go into greater detail about that in a future blog post. One particularly unforgettable characteristic of this spiny black and white species of fish is it's human-like teeth. With its incredibly diverse diet to include plant matter, crabs, worms, fish, mollusks, and other crustaceans, these teeth are especially effective in crushing their shelled prey. You can expect to find these fish gathered around piers and jetties.
Book a Charleston/Folly Beach fishing charter with Tight Line Outfitters and we'll work to hook some sheepshead so that you can see this interesting species up close!
