Fishing Reports by Capt. Dave Hanson

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Winter Sheepshead are Back...and Big! - The first week of December was kind of slow around here, which is typical for the few weeks between Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday rush. But I did get out fishing in Estero Bay, on a catch-and-release trip with Dave and Diane Carey on more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Red Grouper Gulfside; Big Sheepshead Inshore - Tuesday, 11/20, I fished inshore in Estero Bay with Al Tooley and his thirteen-year-old son, Aiden. The guys caught a 20-inch, keeper redfish, along with five keeper sheepshead to 15 inches, all on shrimp. They released seven smaller sheepshead and t more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Good Action & Variety Inshore & Offshore - Monday, 11/5, I fished about 22 miles west of New Pass with Mark Cavanaugh and friends. The four guys used live shrimp to land five gag grouper, three of which would have been keeper-size, to 23 inches, except for the fact that season closed for thos more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach:Grouper, Snapper, Shark, Sheeps, Reds & Snook - Saturday, 10/20, I fished with long-time customer Marshall Swain, along with his family and friends. We used live shrimp, about 22 miles west of New Pass, and the group caught twenty-five keeper lane snapper to 12 inches, along with one keeper mangro more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Red Grouper & Snapper - After some rainy days, one no-show customer (that makes twice within a month, and is oh-so annoying), and a few seasonally slow days, I finally got out fishing again on Tuesday, 10/9, when I fished 22 miles west of New Pass with Scott Severaid, Gregg more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Good Variety-even caught a scamp! - Labor Day Monday, 9/3, I fished at the near-shore reefs with Brian Lucas and his two young sons, Grady and Grant, along with Cadrin Cojanu and his two young children, Ben and Emily. The group used live shrimp to catch four Spanish mackerel to 23 inch more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita beach: Nice Gag Grouper, Goliaths, Shark & Snapper - Monday, 8/20, I fished with Steve Spitzer and Jalissa Reever again. They had fished with me the previous Wednesday and caught a couple of keeper gag grouper. But, Monday, conditions were different. Despite forecasts for one-to-two foot seas and 5-10 more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Goliaths, Gags & Snapper - Monday, 8/6, I headed out to 35 feet to fish with Brian Woeste, Adam Bodkin and Tim Powers. The guys wanted to experience the thrill of big game, but also wanted some food fish. We started out catching blue runners and Spanish mackerel for goliath gr more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: Abundant Hogfish, Keeper Gag, Snapper - After several weeks off the water because of a family reunion trip, followed by lots of rainy days unsuitable for fishing, I finally got offshore on Friday, 7/20/12 with John Hamilton and friends. We fished 36 miles west of New Pass, where we got in more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach

SW FL-Bonita Beach: recent trips, before the rains came - We have had a lot of rain recently and, prior to that, I was off the water for a couple of weeks, due to a family reunion. So there isn't a whole lot to report, but I did do a couple of trips inshore and near-shore. Last Monday morning, I headed to t more...
Capt. Dave Hanson - Bonita Beach