We tried to get out on the bay Monday, but the winds and temps were just too brutal, so we nixed those plans.
Tuesday remained cold, but winds and seas had let up, so I headed offshore. We fished with live shrimp over live bottom in 39 feet, off New Pass. We caught seventeen nice mangrove snapper to 18 ½ inches. We didn’t catch a keeper grouper, but had fun with lots of gags to 21 inches and reds to 19 inches.
Fishing Wednesday in the same area, about 14 miles west of New Pass, with Frank and Mary Satchall, their son Bill, and his wife Kathy, we again caught mangrove snapper—a dozen of them about 15 inches, along with triggerfish and porkfish.
Thursday, fishing out of New Pass, we caught sheepshead, mangrove snapper and porgies, while I helped the new boat owners learn to use navigational and fishing equipment on their boat.
Fishing Estero Bay Friday was a bit slow in low water. We fished an outgoing tide by Wiggins Pass, where we released a 17 inch redfish, sheepshead, and mangrove snapper. We also hooked a snook, as a prelude to season opening this Tuesday.
The winds and seas kicked up Saturday, so I stayed closer to shore at the reefs off Bonita Beach. We caught six nice sheepshead, the largest of which was 6 pounds. We also caught keeper mangrove snapper, using live shrimp.
The photo attached is of a 25 inch gag grouper we got on a recent offshore trip.