Fairfield Fish Facts
June Fish Report
The Black Drum and Sheephead fish are running now in the Neuse River tributaries and within the Harbour. Both can be found near bridges and bulkheads. Black Drum eat soft crabs. Sheepheads eat mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and barnacles. These two fish look very much alike but here is way to tell them apart. Just open their mouth because Sheephead fish have teeth! Sheephead have teeth to eat the crustaceans.
Sheephead Black Drum
Sheephead
Family Sparidae, PORGIES Archosargus probatocephalus
Description: basic silvery color; with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands 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.
Where found: INSHORE species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs and around navigation markers.
Size: INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds.
*Florida Record: 12 lbs., 2 ozs.
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."
Black Drum
Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Pogonias cromis
Description: high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Where found: INSHORE fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds; also OFFSHORE.
Size: common to 30 pounds.
*Florida Record: 93 lbs.
Remarks: largest member of the drum family; spawns NEARSHORE in winter and early spring; feeds on oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimp and occasionally fish; longevity to 35 or more years.
For more info: http://pages.suddenlink.net/fhfc/
