Can Sheepshead Live in Freshwater? You May Be Surprised!

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When most people think of sheepshead, they picture these rough and tough fish along bridges, rocks, and other hard saltwater structures.

But can sheepshead live in freshwater? Have they really been caught in lakes, rivers, ponds, and freshwater springs?

Let’s dive a bit deeper into this topic!

Table of Contents

Can Sheepshead Live in Freshwater?

Sheepshead can live in some bodies of freshwater. While they prefer brackish waters, they can sometimes be found living in freshwater for certain periods of time. For example, many sheepshead will head upstream in freshwater or brackish rivers during the cold winter months.

Another fish, known as the freshwater drum, also has the nickname “sheepshead” but is an entirely different species of fish.

Can Sheepshead Live in Freshwater?

The freshwater drums live entirely in freshwater and should not be confused with saltwater Sheepshead. 

Is a Sheepshead a Freshwater or Saltwater Fish?

Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are saltwater fish. They love to live in brackish waters and sometimes can even be found in freshwater, but are by and large a saltwater fish species. 

While sheepshead are classified as a saltwater fish, they can live for long periods of time in freshwater (just like mullet).

They can be caught in lakes, rivers, and streams that connect with saltwater where they can easily travel back and forth. 

Saltwater Sheepshead Habitat and Distribution

Sheepshead prefer to live closer to shore around jetties, rock piles, piers, mangrove trees, and other structures.

They can also be found near or around oyster bars, tidal creeks, and seawalls. Younger sheepshead tend to live over seagrass flats and mud bottoms. 

The distribution of sheepshead is quite large. They can be found throughout the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Canada all the way down through the Gulf of Mexico. The highest concentrations of sheepshead are found around southwest Florida. 

Sheepshead can also be found down in the Caribbean and off the coasts of Central and South America. No matter where they are found, they tend to live in the same types of habitats and structures. 

Many anglers report finding sheepshead in some bodies of freshwater in states such as Texas, Florida, and Louisiana.

These fish are generally spotted in and near bodies of freshwater near streams and rivers that connect to the ocean. 

What States Have Sheepshead Fish?

Sheepshead can be found along the entire Atlantic coast of the united states, from New England all the way down to the coast of Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico to Texas.

They are hardy fish and tolerate cold temperatures well and a wide range of salinity and habitats.

Can Sheepshead Live in Brackish Water?

In many coastal areas, rivers and estuary systems contain freshwater that flows into saltwater that creates brackish water.

This water is a mixture of both fresh and saltwater and is home to a unique ecosystem and fish species.

Sheepshead can not only live in brackish waters, but thrive in them. Because they have a higher tolerance for varying levels of water salinity, they seek out brackish ecosystems and will often prefer them over other types of areas. 

Younger sheepshead in particular love brackish waters and marshes as they offer more protection. These smaller fish look for areas with more vegetation than the brackish water provides and tend to venture and explore offshore rock structures as they get older. 

And they’re not the only fish that can tolerate brackish environments…the powerful jack crevalle is also known to live and venture into freshwater ecosystems.

Can Sheepshead Live In A Pond?

It has been reported that sheepshead can live in ponds, and down in Florida I have seen them for myself. These are usually small sheepshead, that have tolerated the low salinity from a very young age.

People catch them and bring them home and throw them in local ponds or lakes. As I said, a sheepshead is a tough and hardy fish!

However, they are unable to reproduce in a pond because they require offshore spawning and migration in order to reproduce.

You May Also Like: Are Sheepshead Good To Eat? (Hint: Heck Yes They Are!)

Growing up in Florida, I’ve been surrounded by saltwater my entire life…and I love sharing my passion with others.

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