Estero Bay Report Week of December 8

Capt. Jon Fetter
December 11, 2014
Estero Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report

The fishing this past week provided anglers with good variety and some size. The sheepshead are definitely showing their presence in the backbays around dock pilings, oyster bars and mangrove islands. #1 circle hooks with #3 split shot will provide anglers with the best opportunity to catch these great bait stealers. Remember to put just enough shrimp to cover the hook, too much makes it easy for them to take the entire piece. Anchor up current if you are fishing the docks and drift the baits back to them. You might need extra weight if the water is really moving to make sure the bait is sitting along the bottom. There really isn't much of a hook set on sheepshead especially with circle hooks, but my advice is to wait until you feel resistance on the end of the line then start to reel. Anglers will also pick up snapper and a few flounder with this method. The redfish have been feeding pretty well around mangroves and oyster bars on higher water. Shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. Sea trout are hanging around the deeper channels near grass flats and will take shrimp tipped jig heads dragged along the bottom. Remember to retrieve slow and keep your baits low in the water column during the colder months

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