Red grouper, goliaths, snapper, redfish: Bonita Beach, SW FL

[fishbuster]

I fished Monday offshore. We used live shrimp to catch keeper mangrove and lane snapper, and some good-sized whitebone porgies. We got lots of bites from red grouper to 19 inches, and gags to 21 inches, but no keeper grouper. Next, we targeted big fish, using jack cravalle for bait, and released three goliath grouper, estimated at 30 pounds, 70 pounds, and 100 pounds.

I fished Tuesday, about 15 miles out of New Pass in 40 feet. Using cut-bait and live shrimp, we caught a keeper red grouper at 20 ½ inches, mangrove snapper to 14 inches, keeper yellowtail snapper, and porgies.

Wednesday, fishing Estero Bay in the area of Wiggins Pass, we used live shrimp and a few greenbacks. We caught a 20 inch redfish, a 23 inch redfish, along with a 14 inch sheepshead and some sand bream. We released jack cravalle and a 23 inch snook.

Saturday, I fished in 40 feet, about 15 miles out of New Pass, with Fritz Sullivan, Jack Dorfman, and friend, Austin. We used live shrimp and Spanish sardines to catch a mess of mangrove snapper to 14 inches, and keeper Spanish mackerel. We released grouper shorts and small yellowtail, and were broken off five times by something big.

The photo shown is of a pair of mangrove snapper, caught on a recent offshore trip.