”. This will ensure you get the cleanest fillets and kill the fish quickly and humanely. These crabs are somewhat delicate, but at the same time are a fairly hardy bait that stays. D16 Nanotech blank technology consists of multi-directional layers of IM7 carbon fiber that have been injected with nano resin and wrapped in 8 different. Pros of the Bottom Sweeper Jigs. Medium shank length, offset, easily inhaled by even a small sheepie. If there’s no blood, then try again a little higher. com. Fish Finder Rig: 5/0 Circle Hook, 18″ Steel Leader #40 Lb. 5-inch sheepshead that weighed an outstanding 15. Try to use a smaller, thinner hook. As a general guideline, #6 to #10 hooks work well for smaller steelhead, while #2 to #4 hooks are suitable for larger ones. Snapper: The best hook size for mangrove snapper and sheepshead is a #1 J hook or a 1/0 circle hook Smaller hook sizes are a must for catching excellent bait stealers with small mouths like mangrove snappers and sheepshead. This type of hook is fine for catching an average fish, but when it comes to a sheepshead fish – it’s not strong enough. Sheepshead, on the other hand will rarely get over 10 to 12 pounds. It is a hook on your line with a shrimp that is free to swim around. Rod: 7' medium light to medium action. If you have one rod/reel for trout fishing it needs to be a 5 wt. A chunk the size of an adult males thumb tip is perfect size and will lead to many strikes. Note sliding sinker above the splitshot. mono or fluro leader is good. Hanzlik’s Sheepshead 0. 6 kg) (35 cm). One of the best times to use this method is to have sighted sheep in and around pylons or on oyster shells . Store plunger separate. Sheepshead are also known to stay suspended and even just under the surface near the pilings. You can use a number of different bait like fiddler crabs, mud crabs, shrimp, fresh clams, and even sand fleas. They are good eating and are not regulated. 5-3. Two hooks also allow you to test two different baits to see what the fish are eating. 1. What size hooks for sheepshead? A size 1/0 or #1 extra strong bait or “J” hook works great. Made with feather light IM7 graphite blanks with D16 nanotech and unique carbon fiber design. To start, remove the larger claws off of the fiddler crabs. To tie this rig, first tie your leader to your hook using your favorite snug knot (I use a fisherman’s knot). 50Pcs Fishing Hooks 90 Degree Aberdeen Jig Fishing Accessories Fishing Fly Hooks Shank Bent Saltwater Carbon Steel Fish Hook Jig Head Hook(Size 1) 5. Normally, circle hooks are great for most species, but they don’t work as well for sheepshead, as you need to be able to set the hook in a mouth teeming with teeth. Thought it appropriate to make a video Saturday of how i prepare my Sheepshead cut bait for flathead catfish. Trying to do so from a bouncing boat only adds to the challenge. What size hooks for live shrimp? For shrimp, I like to use a #1 or #2 circle hook. Make sure your weights is all the way down and not slacking then the waiting game begins. CLOSED May 16–June 30. A 4/0 hook is a good start. Sheepshead Jig, 2 Pack, Standup Style Jig, Saltwater Fishing Jig, Ultra Tough Powder Coat Finish with 2X Hook, 1/2-2oz Sizes, Multiple Colors, Made in The USA (. You also do not want a light wire hook, as sheepshead can literally bite them in half. Some anglers swear by using red hooks exclusively. #4. 91-kilogram (2-pound) Women’s 1-kg (2 lb) Tippet Class World Record. By Bao Nuo October 31, 2023 October 31, 2023 Reading Time: 17 minutes “A well-tied sheepshead rig can be. The crab was fitted to a sliding sinker “fishfinder rig” with an 8/0 circle hook. For jigs, use a short shank style hook with just enough weight to keep your bait down in the current. Furthermore, we try to keep these flies streamline, simple, and. Hooks . Red Bead, Size 5 Sinker Slide, 3 Oz. One of the best times to use this method is to have sighted sheep in and around pylons or on oyster shells. Smaller Sheepshead and other fish will chew that Clam down to size. Use the Owner’s Mutu Light Circle hook (2/0 size) for the best results. 99 $ 9 . HOW TO COOK SHEEPSHEAD (THE. They were specifically designed to have a slow sink rate giving it a more. Many anglers fish next to a piling. Another thing to keep in mind with these baits is that fresh is best. Place the egg sinker on the line and attach a swivel to it. William Egerter Jr. If one hook gets broken off, you still have another left. Sheepshead fishing requires medium size, strong and short-shanked hooks. They have prominent teeth with incisors, molars and rounded grinders that enable them to crush shellfish and sea urchins. 35:56 – Best crab lure colors for sheepshead. Size: Sheepshead are common at around 30 inches and 5 to 15 pounds. Sheepshead Law in Florida. Additionally you’ll want to keep the hook size small, usually around a size 6 or 4, and opt for a wide gape, chemically-sharpened hook as their donkey mouth full of molars doesn't make setting the hook an easy task. This 3 - pack of jig weighs 1 - ounce and comes in a pink color. My favorite rig to throw live or cut bait on is a Cobia Fish Finder Rig/Carolina rig. The two hooks I prefer are both Owner’s the Gorilla Light or. 5 oz and 2 oz. Fishing tips: Sheepshead are difficult to hook because they take the bait fast. Sandy Hook, Breezy Point, Ambrose. This will be ideal to attract game like jacks and big redfish. Use long-shanked hooks. I’m just going to tell you what you really need to know. 5-3. 6 kg) (35 cm). Also can use gold sabiki size hook for catching cigars -Split shot or small bass worm weight as slip weight above swivel -10-15 inch 12-20 lb Fluoro leader -flat blade shovel and mesh net for getting oysters off of structure -hammer and brick to smash. A simple seasoning and ten minutes on the grill is all you need Your fish will be ready so quickly you will feel spoiled. This kit come with the large nozzle (5/8") Bait Injector. If its slack tide or a slow moving tide I use a smaller hook with two or three split shots about 6 to 10 inches above it. T. Now you'll want to deep fry each piece of sheepshead filet. So, if you can obtain them, that’s what you should usually try first. 99I prefer Eagle Claw Bronzed baitholder Hooks, available at Wal-Mart in size 1, or 1/0 for larger fish. A stout steel No. Illegal Gear: Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural. Hook Size Chart. Use 1/0 or 2/0 Stand-out drop shot hooks (I use 2 about 12” apart) and a 1/2 to 3 oz. Pyramid Sinker. 25 pounds. Sheepshead require a strong hook-set. Species Fishing Hook Guide. What size hooks for live shrimp? For shrimp, I like to use a #1 or #2 circle hook. What Size Hooks For Black Drum? The ideal hook size for fishing for Black Drum is a 3/0 which is about ¾” in diameter. 6 kg) and 14-18 inches long, with a maximum size of about 29. Larger sheepshead ate mollusks, crustaceans (crabs, etc), bottom worms and quite a bit of fish, mostly anchovies. 5 inches (76 cm) and 22 pounds (9. Fiddler Crabs. Length: 6’8″ – 7’6″; Power: Medium-Light to Heavy Rod Material: SCII Carbon; Guides: Aluminum-oxide; Handle: Full Cork Warranty: 5 year; Pros: Great value for the money; Premium sensitivity; Our choice for the best sheepshead rod under $200 is the Triumph Inshore Fishing Rod. Fax: 850-488-7152. A size 3/0 or 4/0 Owner all-purpose cutting edge hook works great with this rig. It is this boney mouth that makes them hard to hook and requires a hook that is placed in the side of their mouth in the soft tissue. Get our octopus hook today and start catching more sheepshead with the. Sheepshead fish bite during cold Gulf of Mexico waters, attracting nearshore and offshore rocks. Riptail 5276 Octopus Circle Hooks. Simply slide an egg sinker and bead on to your main line, the tie a 60+ lb snap swivel, and attach your 50 lb leader, with a 4/0 to 8/0 circle hook. 80 $ 2. bothersome to actually hook a Sheepshead and then lose it on the barnacles on the structure surrounding them. What size hook should I use for sheepshead?. -#10 freshwater live bait hook (bream hook). No matter which bait you choose you will need to fish right next to the pilings or structure. The overall size of the mouth for this species of fish is rather small. Fiddler crabs are widely considered to be the best bait for sheepshead. 3/0 hooks match well with 3-4 inch baits and 4/0 or 5/0 hooks pair with 4-5 inch baits and so on. For the Sheepshead flies, we like to keep the hook size small, usually around a size 6, and opt for a wide gape, chemically-sharpened hook. so a small hook is necessary. Normally, circle hooks are great for most species, but they don’t work as well for sheepshead, as you need to be able to set the hook in a mouth teeming with teeth. I. Clean bait injector with soap and water after each use. weight 18 inches below them with Shrimp or fiddler crabs and you will dramatically improve the hook-up rate for Sheepshead. Hook size can be confusing because there is no industry standard for, say, a size 4 Mustad and a size 4 Eagle Claw. Commercial California sheephead weight-frequency for trap gear, 1993 to 2005. This is a popular method for getting Sheepshead to bite, but you need to make sure your hook and lure are on the smaller size. If one hook gets broken off, you still have another left. One of the best times to. Jump to page: Results 1 to 10 of 24 58Likes. But you’ll also need to set the hook in the most effective manner possible. Circle hooks work great for sheepshead. Saltwater flies, scent strips, and other artificial lures can also work. The best hook size for Sheepshead is a #1 to #2, which is about ½ inch in diameter. Circle hook size range (from smallest to largest): #32 to 10/0. For larger, tougher baitfish, like big pinfish or croakers, I’ll go with a 3/0 to 5/0 circle hook. SHEEPSHEAD. Finely shred cabbage, carrot and cucumber. . 75 posts · Joined 2011. Using a 12-16” 20lb leader place a 1/0 circle hook at the bottom. Minimum Size Limit: 12" total length. Bait for sheepshead is shrimp, but fiddler crabs, cracked blue crab, and gold spoons also work. He used spinning tackle with 60-pound test braided line and a 60-pound test fluorocarbon. 0 out of 5 stars 1. Sheepshead are also known to stay suspended and even just under the surface near the pilings. Circle Hooks: Do you have to use circle hooks for snapper. Two hooks also allow you to test two different baits to see what the fish are eating. A 2X long hook in a size #4 would be as long as a standard hook in #2 and so on. When rigging fiddler crabs on hooks, I always use the bottom sweeper style. In her kayak, Emily Rose. Up to 8 fish of legal limit taken per day per person. fish reaches a larger adult size. Rod/reel combo 2 should be loaded with full squid, using as much as a 7/0 hook. Daily Bag Limit: 8 per person. as they said - - - down slowly then back up slowly about 3 to 4' at a time. Young black drum eat many of the same foods as the sheeps-head, but are a much less successful thief (suc-cess being the ability to encounter a hook baited with a fiddler crab or shrimp, stealing the bait, and escaping capture). If I'm fishing for bigger sheepshead I'll go up to a 2/0 hook. The fish we are seeing up here in the northeast are wanderers, and the more food they find – as a general rule – the bigger they are going to get. The author unhooks an 11-pound sheepshead from a favorite jetty of his during an early fall visit. Cudnik snells the hook to 25 inches of 50-pound fluorocarbon tied to a small, 230-pound-test swivel. 1 cup buttermilk. The most distinguishing feature is their human-like teeth. 5oz, Pearl White) Our standup style jig head is the standard in sheepshead fishing!It’s difficult to feel the bites and set a hook in the small mouth of a sheepshead. The weight of the split shots depends on the depth and current you’re fishing. Size And Weight. SMALL. Jump to Latest Follow. Normally, circle hooks are great for most species, but they don’t work as well for sheepshead, as you need to be able to set the hook in a mouth teeming with teeth. This is so that if you’re snelling the hook, the line can go straight down to the backside of the shank. This size hook is small enough to get into the Sheepshead mouth, but big enough to not snap when a big girl hits. In my opinion Stainless, or Circle hooks are a waste of time SheepsHead fishing. Rebel Lures #2 Micro Critter Tackle – Top Barbless Trout Lure. 1 size for most of my fish. Sheepshead have small mouths for their body size so a #2 or #4 hook will be all you need. To catch fiddler crabs, you can rummage around a local tidal marsh with a bucket and a quick hand. My rig of choice is a dropper loop about 10” to 16” above a 2-6 ounce sinker. 1 to No. The first signs of a bite are one or more light taps. 6 kg) and 14-18 inches long, with a maximum size of about 29. 2. Sheepshead are also known to stay suspended and even just under the surface near the pilings. It also eats seaweed, algae, and other marine plants. While sheepshead typically stay under 15 pounds, black drum can reach much larger weights. In the state of North Carolina, currently, the minimum size of a Sheepshead to be. Because of the structure of a sheepshead mouth and all the molars you will need a very small J hook. They also have relatively small mouths, so a hook small enough to fit in their mouth is required. “The new, single hook is both sharp and strong and will hold much bigger fish than. In the numbered sizes, the largest commonly available size is #1. A mix-up can result in up to $255 in fines and court costs. Go 20 to 25 inches away from the weight up. Be sure to go with a quality brand of hook, such as Gamakatsu or Owner, because you want a sharp and strong hook that’s able to easily penetrate the fish’s mouth. Choosing the best hook size for Snapper depends on personal opinion and experience. Sometimes confused with: black drum, spadefish. Texas Sheepshead Limits: Daily Limit: 5 per person. A size 1/0 circle hook is a good size for a sheepshead, just make sure the brand you choose is strong enough for the job. You. Best way to keep bait on the hook. Using small hooks is essential to stop Sheepshead from stealing your bait right off the hook. 4 hook. • Possess fish where the size or species cannot be determined (FGC 5508 and 5509); • Fail to exhibit on demand all licenses, tags, validations, permits, applications or reservation to any peace officer or authorized CDFW employee (FGC 2012); • Fail to exhibit, on demand, all fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians and reptiles andStep 2: Second Cut. Fairly common up to 7 pounds and maxing out around 20 pounds. Sheepshead utilize nearshore coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. Uncommon - this species is more common south of Delaware. Above the leader place a egg sinker just large enough to hold bottom against the current;Minimum size: 10″ minimum; Sheepshead Season: All Year. . Rebel makes some of the best trout lures out on the market and have been making responsible barbless lures for years. “It takes that size to get a respectable fillet,” Newton said. I use 50-60lb fluorocarbon leader and 2/0-4/0 super sharp Owner cutting point J hooks. It feeds on shellfish, octopuses, and a wide variety of fish. Put the hook in through one of the legs and out through the body. These fish are often found around pylons of bridges/piers, rock piles. When hooking a live sand flea, care must be taken as it must still be able to move freely. braided line. Circle Hooks: Reprint/Repost #1 or 1/0 are best. J-Hooks are best suited for the sheepshead’s mouth and smaller hooks work best, with #1 being the most popular size. Fiddler Crabs – Best Bait For Sheepshead. Using a 12-16” 20lb leader place a 1/0 circle hook at the bottom. Split shots. But if you are willing to put in the time and effort, you can catch one of these tasty saltwater fish with relative eaLearn the best hook size for sheepshead and mangrove snappers #shorts See more here hook size of 2/0 to 5/0 is generally recommended for fishing with plastic worms. You will get some perfect hook ups in the corner of the mouth and also some catches in the roof that can hold till you get the net under them. The size is dependent on the bait size, but 1/0 works almost every time. Fiddler crabs are widely considered to be the best bait for sheepshead. As far as size goes, the dime to nickel-sized fiddler crabs are best. Plenty of predators eat the eggs and the juveniles. One of the best times to use this method is to have sighted sheep in and around pylons or on oyster shells. Sheepshead are a restricted species - which means they have both a legal size limit and a bag limit. The hook is very important. Then, put the split shot about 3-4″ up from your hook. Terry Frankford. No hook set is required. Sheepshead can be found offshore around recks and structure at all times of the year but become very prevalent around the colder months. Saltwater Jig Heads and Freshwater Jig Heads that can be used on the flats, inlets, and open water. Hook-Eye: Reversed, turned-up tapered eye. To fish a live spot or eel, Cudnik chooses a 5/0 circle hook. Dubiel’s VMC weighted hooks range from 1⁄16- to ¼-ounce. For live menhaden, he upsizes to a 9/0 circle hook. Sheepshead will often inhale short-shank hooks, and then those rugged teeth. 4 X Strong Hook. Sheepshead are marked by 4 or 6 vertical dark bars (stripes) on their sides. 99 :. Believe it or not, sheepshead can actually bite through the light wire hooks sometimes used for inshore. 2 split-shot,” he says. Use at least a 3500 series reel. What type of hook is best for sheepshead? Sheepshead: The best sheepshead hook is an octopus hook The smaller, the better when it goes to get a hook up in the sheepshead’s mouth; we recommend a 1/0 or 2/0 octopus sheepshead hook. Sheepshead can be very fussy at times. You would have to start making a curving second cut starting at the initial cut, just over the lateral line at the back. You can also use a slip sinker rig with the sinker right up against the hook. #3. Quarter-size blue crabs on the hook work very well. Hooks. This method works great fooling the sheepshead,the hook is buried in the head of the shrimp, just make sure the shrimp is small. Size: Average Sheepshead range from 1 pound to around 4 pounds. They are so similar in terms of performance, quality, longevity, and overall user experience that making a final purchasing decision may be difficult. These fishes possess powerful jaws and sharp teeth and could easily break weak or thin hooks. The two hooks I prefer are both Owner’s the Gorilla Light or the Flyliner Live Bait hooks in size 1, 2 and 4 If you are looking for actual size i would say no bigger than a dime and a little smaller. 5 wt – This is your most common trout, all around fly fishing weight. The cranka crab is lightweight, weighing in from 4 to 10 grams depending on the size you buy. For hook sizes from 32 to 1, the larger the number, the smaller the hook. The best hook size for mangrove snapper and sheepshead is a #1 J hook or a 1/0 circle hook. The two hooks I prefer are both Owner’s the Gorilla Light or the Flyliner Live Bait hooks in size 1, 2 and 4 If you are looking for actual size i would say no bigger than a dime and a little smaller would be fine. 91-kilogram (2-pound) Women’s 1-kg (2 lb) Tippet Class World Record. slip egg sinker 3' above the hook. Like the others said, don't set the hook. Sheepshead have incredibly strong jaws, thin, weak hooks can be easily broken by their teeth. A second fish that somewhat looks like a sheepshead is the Atlantic spadefish. What size hook should I use? Use a smaller #6 or #4 for 1-2″ minnows and small leeches to target Perch and Crappie Use the medium size #4 & #2 on larger 3-4″ minnows and jumbo leeches for Walleye. Hook the live shrimp just under the "horn", or ridge on top of its head. One of the best times to use this method is to have sighted sheep in and around pylons or on oyster shells. Cut a 24 inch 30 lb test fluorocarbon or monofilament leader and tie your circle hook to one side and a snap swivel to the other. Size 6 to 8 hooks will work. Size 1/0 to 3/0 short-shank, 2X-strong hooks are preferred. If you are looking for actual size i would say no bigger than a dime and a. Daily Bag Limit: 8 per person. Our local grounds provide a virtual smorgasbord for these fish, with green crabs and other. Food Value: One of the absolute best. This pack includes some of their top lures in miniature size, which makes them ideal when fishing smaller creeks, streams & rivers. And here’s how to tie this rig step by step:What size hook should I use for sheepshead? A size 1/0 or #1 extra strong bait or “J” hook works great. “For their size, they truly fight with all they have. tcain24 Discussion Starter · May 19, 2009. Shrimp. The knocker is ideal for catching sheepshead on the bottom and around heavy structures. , 8 MM Dia. Anything coming over to eat the crab has to bite down over the entire jig. For this rig, you are inserting the hook through the head of the shrimp. This homemade way for catching fiddler crabs involves a little bit of crafting. Elvira Bowen. You can switch out the egg sinker with a fish finder slide and a weight as seen in the. usually with Sheepshead you have to hide the hook. Use a dropper loop size 6 or 8 weights, use 1 or 2 live bait hooks remove the head but make sure keep the slimy portion of the shrimp and do not remove the shell so it will stay better in the hooks. Leader material. Fishing hooks are made in different sizes for a reason – hooks of different shapes and sizes are required for. The weight you use depends on the current where you're fishing. Lubricate tube with a light coat of veggie oil just before use. Adult sheepshead grows to be around 1-8 pounds (. The best hook size for mangrove snapper and sheepshead is a #1 J hook or a 1/0 circle hook. Reel: 2500–3000 series spinning. Sheepshead are there for the taking if you have the know-how (see above) and patience. I think I am using the wrong hook. Another item is to cover the hook with the bait so the sheepshead can not see it. Gigging is usually done at. Carolina rig: one-ounce egg sinker on running line tied to swivel; 12- to 18-inch, 40-pound leader running from swivel to hook; Bottom rig: weight on bottom with some sort of dropper hook attached between it and a swivel; use a 30- to 50-pound line; Carolina Rig and Dropper Rig Jigs and Bottom. Vessel Limit: 50 per trip during March and April *State regulations extend into federal waters. 31:27 – How to set the hook (sheepshead are notorious bait stealers) 33:40 – Tony’s favorite sheepshead rig for using fiddler crabs or sand fleas. When a kahle hook grabs a sheesphead, it doesn’t let go. Average size of sheepshead fish. A size 1/0 or #1 extra strong bait or “J” hook works great. Factors Affecting Hook Size Selection Now that we’ve covered some fish species and their recommended hook sizes, it’s important to consider additional factors when choosing the right hook size for pier fishing: The best sheepshead hook is an octopus hook The smaller, the better when it goes to get a hook up in the sheepshead’s mouth; we recommend a 1/0 or 2/0 octopus sheepshead hook. Sheepshead ( Archosargus probatocephalus), of the family Sparidae, is an excellent food fish that ranges from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Brazil in mainland coastal waters, rivers and freshwater springs. Of course, if you are using crab an exposed hook is not much of a concern because it looks like another leg sticking out. A live bait hook, aberdeen hook or octopus hook have long shanks that are a great fit for live worms. 941-228-7802. Top Sheepshead Bay fishing charters in Fall 2023, from $54 p/p. Best Hook Size For Sheepshead . The barb of the hook will bury itself into the fish’s mouth. The hook size chart below encompasses. Sheepshead fishing around bridge pylons in the main channel can yield some of the strongest currents and require heavier weights; fishing around docks farther inshore is less severe on currents,. In our experience, some of the best hooks to use are the Mustad 2/0 and 3/0 Octopus hooks. Gamakatsu B10S, Size 2-8 saltwater hook Black size "A" rod wrapping thread (280 denier) Lead dumbbell eyes, sized to match hook, black Died olive barred hackle Black Mohair yarnHow to Catch a Sheepshead Fishing Florida (The Complete Guide) The best way to catch sheepshead is to target them around any underwater structure that has barnacles on it with a #2 sized J hook and a small piece of shrimp and a light 8 to 10 pound fluorocarbon leader. To catch sheepshead, fishermen may choose hand lines, cane poles and spinning tackle and use fiddler crabs, barnacles, oysters, clams, crabs and shrimp for bait. As for what size hook, I like to go with a #1 to 1/0 hook. Moreover, the hook would have to be smaller to fit perfectly in the fish's small mouth. Many types of hooks work very well to catch Sheepshead. The sheepshead has a maximum known lifespan of at least 20 years, with maturity normally occurring at 2 years of age. 1 or 2 hook is used because a sheepshead can bite through light wire hooks. Hooks . The smaller, the better when it goes to get a hook up in the sheepshead’s mouth; we recommend a 1/0 or 2/0 octopus sheepshead hook. The knocker rig is similar to the Carolina rig. Drop straight down, reel up three cranks. 35:00 – Whether or not you should keep the claw on the fiddler crab. of 28 degrees N. Fiddler crabs are arguably the best bait for Sheepshead. One of the most popular ways to catch sheepshead is with a carolina rig The Carolina rig is also known as the sliding sinker rig because it consists of an egg sinker that can slide up and down the line. The size is dependent on the bait size, but 1/0 works almost every time. I’m just going to tell you what you really need to know. Package Sizes: 10, 25, 50 and 100 Hooks. My go-to hook, most of the time, is a 1/0 Owner J hook. The best way to catch sheepshead recreationally is to use hook and line tackle, and this species is also becoming more popular to spear fishermen. 80. Minimum Size Limit: 12" total length. 4K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by sandbar Jul 25, 2012. How to Catch Sheepshead At Night: Do Sheepshead Bite At Night? Sheepshead Fishing Rig: Best Fishing Rig For Sheepshead [4 Best]The rig is very simple and consists of your split shot weights and a hook. You also do not want a light wire hook, as sheepshead can literally. The jig head should have a wide gap with a sharp and stout hook. Shaddock Fishing Circle Hooks For Sheepshead. The new library has more than 20,000 square feet, almost twice the size of the old one at the same location. Regulations. The smallest fiddler crabs hook into the biggest sheepshead. A 1/8th oz. And here’s how to tie this rig step by step: What size hook should I use for sheepshead? A size 1/0 or #1 extra strong bait or “J” hook works great. Just be aware that sometimes they mark #1 hooks as 1/0 and they are too small.