Another important fact is to use just enough weight to let the bait sink slowly into holes in the rocks. The guide adds a split shot weight about 12 inches above the hook. He’ll start at one end of the jetties and work down the rocks, pitching a fiddler crab or live shrimp into visible holes.

“I usually start seeing fish before I catch them,” Spitzmiller said. “Standing up in the bow right on top of the rocks, you can usually see fish holding down in the holes.”

Despite seeing fish in the rocks, the guide admitted that he rarely sees the fish bite his bait. Unlike freshwater bass or crappie, which are known for moving up to take a bait, sheepshead prefer to go down for a bait. Sight-fishing for sheepshead is effective to a point, but the bait should be lowered to the bottom right in front of the fish.

Spitzmiller prefers to present a bait close to the bottom with as little movement as possible. He indicated this type of presentation will more closely resemble what a natural bait would do than does a presentation that moves the bait upward in the water column.

“Patience is key,” he said. “Keep that fiddler crab in the strike zone as long and as still as possible, holding the bait just off the bottom. On a crab bite, the line just gets heavy. A live shrimp bite will result in a faint tick in the line.”

With either bait, Spitzmiller insists that the secret is in the hook.

“I like to use a small No. 2 gold crappie hook,” the Captain claimed.

Once a bite is detected, refrain from setting the hook. Instead, apply a simple pull back on the line and keep the line tight to the fish. This tactic causes the light wire gold crappie hook to pierce the sheepshead’s weak spot: its thick lips.

For this tactic the guide recommends frequently changing hooks because the rocks, fish and the salt water will dull the light hooks in a hurry. These hooks work best tied to an abrasion-resistant light line. Spitzmiller is a big fan of the Cajun Red Lightning line by Shakespeare. The red color line makes the line more difficult to see in the water and the line is especially durable, a bonus when fishing around oyster shells, barnacles and rocks.

To book a trip with Rick Hiott, contact him at Captain Rick Hiott’s Inshore Fishing Charters, (843) 412-6776 or (843) 554-9386. Call Johnny Spitzmiller at Ambush Inshore Charters, (843) 971-0537.