Never heard of Sheepies not counting in JP. Personaly, I think that they are a truly fun to catch, and while not a surface fish are way harder to catch than sand bass (all luck aside). They run straight for the rocks and they (even small sheeps) have the strength to take you there. Plus to target them you have to fish light line, bad combo for fishing rocks. The luck factor can be huge in fishing, I've never seen a white sea bass over 40lbs caught by someone with anything resembling talent. It's proof that 20lb line (all our rent rods have 20lb) can take a lot of tension.

Concerning who gets in JP, can't see why what someone pays is a factor. And if they are freinds of the crew, this shouldn't matter either as long as there's no cheating. If they cheat go complain to the office at the landing, you just might get a free pass. But, then should you be allowed to get in JP? Yes. Cheating is very rare though, I've seen it twice in four years as a deckhand.

Amish Ed