Fishbuster Charters December Wrap-up
Capt. Dave Hanson
December 30, 2022
Bonita Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
I ventured out 19 miles west of New Pass on Tuesday, 12/6, on a sight-seeing/exploratory/ occasional fishing trip with Erwin and Millie Metusiak. The Metusiaks have gone out with me for years, but always in the bay (inshore.) Since my bay boat remains in the shop, undergoing repairs since Hurricane Ian, Irwin and Millie decided to head offshore with me in calm waters, mostly to see what the waterways are like post-storm. Dolphin were everywhere (which usually means fish aren't!) I did have some frozen squid onboard, so we did immerse a line or two, and released a half dozen grunts, a dozen small red grouper, a 12-inch triggerfish, and a bunch of squirrelfish. Keeper-sized lane snapper were abundant, but are currently out-of-season. We saw some red tide, close-in, but none beyond five or six miles. We also saw a lot of debris still littering the trees along the bay and even to about a mile offshore.
On Saturday morning, 12/10, I fished in spots between seventeen and twenty miles west of New Pass with Matt Burris. We used squid to catch and release a dozen lane snapper, eight of which would have been keepers at about 12 inches each, if it were not for closed season. We also released fifteen red grouper shorts. Seven grunts made their way into the fish box, destined for fish tacos.
Ingel Merz and his two sons, Matt and Max, fished with me a few years ago, but have not been back for a while, due to the pandemic. They fished offshore with me on Tuesday, 12/13, in spots ranging from 28 to 36 miles west of New Pass, using squid for bait. They boxed thirty grunts, all about 14 inches, and released an equal number. They added to the fish box five mangrove snapper keepers at 13 to 14 inches, and one 14-inch porgy. As for releases, there were a dozen red grouper to 20 inches, which are currently out-of-season a half dozen lane snapper to 12 inches also out of season, two yellowtail snapper shorts, three lesser amberjacks all around 16 inches, and a nine-pound goliath grouper.
Mike Connealy, a long-time customer, usually fishes offshore, but with seas of three to five feet on Wednesday, 12/28, he changed plans to fish a catch-and-release trip in southern Estero Bay. Using shrimp, we caught thirty sheepshead to 17-inches, a dozen of which were keeper-size, though we released them all. Mike also released a 17-inch seatrout.
Matt Burris and his friend, Frank Mullaney, fished southern Estero Bay with me on a catch-and-release trip Thursday morning, 12/29, using shrimp for bait. They caught five black drum to 6 inches and 25 sheepshead to 15 inches, including eight potential keepers. They also released a 12-inch mangrove snapper, a pufferfish, and a ladyfish.
You can view our fishing action videos at http://fishbustercharters.com/fishingvideos.html
Bonita Beach Fishing Forecast:
Rough seas will subside, per predictions for early next week. So enjoy fishing, offshore or inshore!
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