Sexy Fish: Sheepshead
The sheepshead is a marine fish that grows to about 30 in, but usually only reaches 10 to 20 in. It is deep and compressed in body shape, with 5 to 6 dark bars on the side of the body over a gray background. It has sharp dorsal spines. Its diet consists of oysters, clams, and other bivalves, and barnacles, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans. It has a hard mouth, with several rows of stubby teeth, which help crush prey.Although the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, in New York City, was named after the fish, it is almost entirely a southern species: its range extends from the Mid-Atlantic to Texas. As sheepshead feed on bivalves & crustaceans, successful baits include shrimp, sand fleas, clams, fiddler crabs, and mussels. Sheepshead have a knack for stealing bait, so a small hook is necessary. Locating sheepshead in a boat is not difficult: fishermen look for rocky bottoms or places with obstructions, and they try around jetties and the pilings of bridges & piers. The average weight of a sheepshead is 3 to 4 pounds, but some individuals reach the range of 10 to 15 pounds.
Sheepshead is best when baked, but is great when grilled, broiled, fried.
Baked Lemon Sheepshead
Serves 5
Ingredients
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2 lbs sheepshead fillets
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3 tablespoons lemon juice
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2 tablespoons melted butter
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1 small onion, chopped
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1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
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salt and pepper
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dill
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olive oil
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dill
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle sheepshead fillets with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Coat with butter and place in oiled baking dish with lots of room. Mix parsley and onions and place around sheepshead. Sprinkle a little olive oil and dill on top. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees and bake 12 minutes or until done.
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