 |
Fishing Report - Naples, Ft. Myers, Bonita Beach & Estero Bay
Capt. Dave Hanson
February 18, 2006
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Snapper, sheepies, a tripletail-slightly better bite this week: Bonita Beach, SW FL
The photo shown at right is of a pair of gag grouper, caught on an offshore trip last month.
Sunday and Monday this week remained rough offshore, not to mention the bitter cold, especially out on the water. Tuesday was calmer, but still very cold, and my anglers chickened out!
Wednesday was chilly at the outset, but warmed up nicely. Unfortunately, the seas weren't as calm as predicted, but at least it was possible to fish! I headed out of New Pass to about 45 feet. First thing, we hooked a big gag grouper, but he ran off with the line and broke the leader. We ended up with three limits of mangrove snapper to 16 inches, and a keeper tripletail.
I fished Thursday, in 44 feet, out of New Pass. We didn’t catch quite as many as I had the day before, but the action was steady. We caught nine snapper to 17 inches, and two keeper sheepshead. We released porgies, and gag grouper to 19 inches.
After two days of decent offshore fishing, the bite slowed down again on Friday. I fished in 45 feet out of New Pass. We caught a few keeper mangrove snapper and triggerfish, and released small grunts.
Fishing Saturday, about 26 miles out of New Pass, we caught some nice sheepshead, all about 16 inches, a few keeper mangrove snapper, some 14 inch porkfish, triggerfish and grunts. We released gag shorts to 20 inches and a few red grouper shorts.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
