But if you did, you’d probably want a mouthful of industrial-strength teeth that could make quick work of a shell and crush a crustacean or two, for good measure.
#THEETH OF A SHEEPSHEAD FISH CRACK#
Unlike predatory gamefish, sheepshead teeth are meant to grind and crush marine organisms such as barnacles, oysters and crabs.Ever tried to crack open a clam with your bare teeth? Yeah, me neither. The teeth of a sheepshead fish can look strikingly similar to those of a human at first sight, as their front rows are incisor-like and pointed at the end. Sheepshead can live for over 20 years! What Do Sheepshead Fish Teeth Look Like?
When they are younger they stay near grass flats feeding on algae, and as they get older they move closer to piers, sea walls, jetties, and other structures. They are known to migrate inshore and offshore depending on the time of year and temperature. They move closer to the coast in the spring to spawn, which they do multiple times per season. Sheepshead begin to spawn between February and April at the age of 2-4 years old. This makes them extremely adaptable, as there isn’t much a sheepshead can’t eat. Sheepsheads are omnivores and feed on everything from algae and barnacles to oysters and shrimp. Sheepshead have also been caught as far south as Brazil, and as far north as Eastern Canada. Sheepshead thrive in the Gulf of Mexico, and their habitat can extend all the way along with Central America and into the Caribbean.
Sheepshead Bay in New York City is named for the presence of these fish years ago, though they have generally fled due to pollution. While sheepshead are most commonly located near the coast of Florida, they can be found up and down the entire East Coast of the United States. The spines of their fins are very sharp and can be more dangerous to anglers than their formidable set of teeth. Their lower jaw is smooth and does not contain any barbels. Their faces are blunt and slightly rounded, with a flat noses and high forehead. These dark markings will fade slightly with age, and are a key feature when identifying a sheepshead. The sheepshead is a silver colored fish that is striped with black vertical “ bars” or “ bands.” There are typically between five and seven of these distinctive bands, though this number may vary. While sheepshead can be found all over the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, this is somewhat surprising, as the coast of Florida is known to contain the highest concentration of the species anywhere in the world. It was caught by Wayne Deselle in New Orleans, Lousiana on April 16th, 1982. The current all-tackle world record sheepshead weighed a staggering 21 lbs, 4 ounces. They grow until around seven years of age, and females are generally larger than males. The average adult sheepshead measures between 12 and 20 inches long and weigh between three and ten pounds. Perhaps the most recognizable feature are its large, distinct teeth similar to that of a human’s, which they use to crush and grind their food. The fins are short and dark in color, with notable spines on the dorsal area. The sheepshead fish has a deep oval-shaped silver body, with 5-7 vertical black stripes. Related Posts What do Sheepshead Fish Look Like?.What Do Sheepshead Fish Teeth Look Like?.If you are looking for information about freshwater drum (also nicknamed sheepshead) visit my article here. NOTE: This article is specifically about the saltwater sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). I’ll answer a few commonly asked questions and provide some great photos too. In this article, ill tell you exactly what a sheepshead looks like, and talk about the distinguishable features. So, what does a sheepshead fish look like? If you’ve spent any time fishing or diving in the warm Atlantic waters of the eastern united states, you may have encountered a sheepshead.īut, did you know that this species of fish is commonly mistaken for other saltwater fish, even by experienced anglers?
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