Our sheepshead is Semicossyphus pulcher its in the wrasse family. They are really easy pickings. They are not that afraid and commonly inhabit the same location as divers/freedivers/spearfishermen so they are picked off pretty easy. I have always heard that only beginners spear them because they are such easy prey and are getting over farmed.
Heres a video of california diving-The orange fish here is a Garabaldi, california state fish, and protected by law. The second fishes you can really see that are somewhat larger than the Garabaldi fish are sheepsheads. They have a black to dark grey head, and a lighter colored body. The Males are very red with the same black head and tail as the rest. And as a side note the last fish here is the calico sea bass. Big ones at that. This is not my video, but i dive in this location a lot. Its a protected marine park in catalina called Casino point.
http://www.youtube.com/v/QoCwQMabDeeperBlue.net Forums - Reply to TopicFN0
Heres a pic of a male.
On the east coast i think you are talking about this?(from fishbase)
Sheepshead
Family Sparidae, PORGIES
Archosargus probatocephalus
