Sheepshead, or Schafskopf in German, is an old game that originated in Middle Europe in the mid to late 1700's. The game is believed to be derived Tarok and Kalabrias. The game was developed by peasants who were fed up with their government and expressed their discontent by giving the King Card a lower rank.

When was the sheepshead discovered?

The sheepshead was originally described by J.J. Walbaum in 1792 as Sparus probatocephalus. Recognizing the uniqueness of the sheepshead in comparison to other porgies, long time Smithsonian scientist Theodore Nicholas Gill erected the monotypic genus Archosargus in 1865.

Is sheepshead a good fish to eat?

The short answer is that the sheepshead taste is actually sweet and delicious with a slight shellfish flavor. The varied diet for this fish makes it not just delicious but also very nutritious. The somewhat flaky and tender flesh is often considered to have a flavor that faintly resembles shellfish when cooked.