Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Sparidae
Description: basic silvery color, with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black
bars on sides, not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including
incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and
sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins
Similar fish: black drum,
Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber (black
drum have barbels on lower jaw, sheepshead do not; vertical barring on sides of
black drum and spadefish disappear as fish mature; spadefish have small,
brush-like teeth)
Where found: inshore around oyster bars,
seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves nearshore in late winter and early spring
for spawning, gathering over rocks, artificial reefs, and around navigation
markers
Size: inshore, 1 to 2 pounds; offshore, common to 8
pounds
Remarks: feeds on mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler
crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers, prompting the saying that "anglers must
strike just before they bite"
Florida record: 15 pounds, 2 ounces
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