Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)

Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) are a familiar fish along the east coast, ranging from Nova Scotia south to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Also called seabream and convict fish, they are a marine fish that is most commonly found in brackish coastal waters within bays and estuaries, reportedly entering freshwater during the winter on occasion. Sheepshead love structure and are common around jetties, rock pilings, piers, dock pilings, and mangrove roots. Juveniles are most common amongst eelgrass beds and muddy bottoms. Sheepshead are omnivores, but have a strong preference for crustaceans and bivalves, using the large “human-like” teeth at the front of their mouth for scraping barnacles off structure and crushing other hard-shelled organisms. They are an important recreational fish throughout their range, and have limited commercial importance.  Sheepshead adapt well to aquaria and are fairly common in public aquariums. They will grow quickly and get la