Sheep Head In The Intercoastal Waterway

Catching a big, hard fighting Sheephead during the month of February is definitely a test of an anglers ability to land a fish under some of the worse conditions possible. These fish fill the inter coastal waterways down in Gulf Shores Alabama and lock down on barnacle laden, rock reefs and pier pilings. Fish ranging from 5 - 8 pounds commonly strike your unsuspecting shrimp as it crawls along the bottom. Last February I took a little trip and while still in sight of Lulu's Restaurant began landing mega Sheephead. The weather was brutal cold and the wind cut me in half but the big fish kept me casting all day. As an added bonus a giant school of dauphins came up within feet of my 17ft. boat. It was a little bit scary but also...awesome! I had some fish on I would loved to have seen but they shredded my line fighting hard on the rough structure below. I loved the test and I got my share. Lord willing I will return in February 2011 to settle those scores. Catch a good day and it is a great place to take a kid. All the laws you normally go by on your local lake are the same laws that apply down here except for size and creel limits. On sheep head, catch them all. There are no size or creel limits. Stop in at a local bait shop and while you are picking up shrimp, get a free chart with pictures of fish and the laws regarding them. Need more tips, drop me a line. Good Luck and go get em.

15 Years and Counting

Roger Johnson, my deer hunting dad, gets his picture made with a seven point killed on the Oconee Nat'l Forest, Cedar Creek WMA in Georgia. It was killed on a ridge we call "13 Ridge". 13 Ridge has produced a buck every year, for the last 15 years. Not a bad place ehh. In 15 years of hunting this ridge, I have never seen another hunter that wasn't in my group. It is not a unique spot though. Every time I go to the check station a group of Asians are there to check in. This year they checked in a monster 10 point among the others they had. Can't understand a word they're saying. I have never laid eyes on the Asian's spot but it is a good one. Don't think I haven't looked for their vehicle on the side of the road because I have. They may be looking for mine, I don't know but the point to be made is this. Inside these WMA's and Nat'l Forest areas await some very good hunting. Since 1992 on this WMA our club has never failed to kill a deer. Lord willing next year we will do it again, and the next and the next. By the way, we call this 13 Ridge because years ago a nice 13 point was dropped, not far from where this picture was taken. It had three drop tines. You will not be able to find the name 13 Ridge on any map unless of course it is the map displayed on our hunting club wall. It is a tremendous deer area and I can't wait to get back to it. These spots are out there, Good Luck!!!