Sheepshead Fishing Near New Orleans

A Fish Worth Going After

Sheepshead don’t get the same headlines as redfish, but they have a loyal following among inshore anglers in Southeast Louisiana — and for good reason. They’re a genuinely fun fish to catch, they’re found year-round on structure throughout St. Bernard Parish, and they’re some of the best eating in the Gulf. On trips with Captain Jimmy Corley, sheepshead are a regular part of the catch, particularly around the bridges, pilings, and oyster reefs that dot the water around Shell Beach.

About Sheepshead

Sheepshead are named for their teeth — broad, flat, human-looking chompers built for crushing crabs, barnacles, oysters, and shrimp off hard structure. You’ll find them tight to anything solid: pilings, jetties, bridge supports, oyster beds. The more barnacle growth on the structure, the better.

They have a reputation for being tricky to hook — the bite can be subtle, and they’re good at picking bait clean if you’re not paying attention. But when they’re actively feeding, especially during the spawn in late spring and early summer, they can be very cooperative. The key is getting the bait in front of them and reading the rod. It’s satisfying, hands-on fishing.

They’re also excellent table fare — firm white meat, mild and sweet, with none of the muddy taste you sometimes get from other inshore species. Clients who’ve never eaten sheepshead are consistently surprised by how good they are.

When to Catch Sheepshead Near New Orleans

Late Spring and Early Summer (May through July)

This is the prime window. Sheepshead spawn in late spring and early summer, and during that period they’re feeding aggressively and concentrated on structure in predictable numbers. The bite is noticeably more active, and this is when clients who specifically want sheepshead have the most consistent success. Captain Jimmy knows which pieces of structure hold fish during the spawn, and that inside knowledge makes a meaningful difference.

Winter and Early Spring (December through April)

Cold water pushes sheepshead tight to structure — bridge pilings, dock posts, jetty rocks — where they stack up and become more predictable. January through March is a reliable window, with fish concentrated in spots that Jimmy has fished for years. The bite can be slower in the coldest months, but when you find them, you find numbers.

Fall

As water temperatures moderate in fall, sheepshead return to structure after spreading out through the warmer months. The fishing picks up through October and November, setting up well for the winter run ahead.

Summer (June through August)

Post-spawn, sheepshead scatter and can be harder to locate consistently. They’re still there — deep bridge pilings and shaded dock posts hold fish year-round — but it takes more work to find them in numbers. When the speckled trout and redfish bite is strong in summer, most trips focus there, with sheepshead as a bonus when the right structure is nearby.

How We Fish for Sheepshead

Live shrimp and fiddler crabs are the go-to baits — they match what sheepshead are already eating off the pilings and reef. Light jig heads or small circle hooks, fished tight to the structure, are the standard presentation. The goal is to get the bait right in front of the fish with as little resistance as possible.

Captain Jimmy positions the boat to present the bait naturally with the current and works the structure methodically. It’s attentive fishing — you’re watching the rod, feeling for any change in pressure, and setting the hook with conviction when something feels off. Once you get the hang of it, it’s addictive.

One Trip. Three Species.

On most trips out of St. Bernard, you’re not limiting yourself to one fish. The same marshes hold redfish and speckled trout, and Captain Jimmy reads the conditions throughout the day to put you on whatever is biting. Work some structure for sheepshead, move to the grass edges for trout, finish on the flats for reds. One boat, one price, one of the most diverse inshore fisheries in the country.

That’s why people come back. Not because they caught one species — because they had a full day on the water with someone who knows how to fish all of it.

Book Your Sheepshead Charter Near New Orleans

Captain Jimmy Corley runs trips out of Shell Beach year-round. Nearly 300 five-star Google reviews. One of the top-rated fishing guides in the New Orleans area.

See the fishing page for full pricing and availability, or check the Fishing FAQs for common questions before you book.

Call (504) 258-4431 to book directly.

See Charter Prices

Call (504) 258-4431