Trout,Sheepshead,Snapper,Spanish,Hogfish,&Gags Galore:SW
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2003 9:35 amWe fished Tuesday, the first day calm enough to get off shore since last Saturday. Fishing with the Leo McDonald party, we caught two trout at 17 inches and 20 inches, and keeper sheepshead. We released small mangrove snapper, gag grouper, jack cravalle and soapfish, at the Bonita reefs, in 20 feet.
Terry Foreman and Jeff Eldridge fished with us Wednesday, 9 miles off Naples in 33 feet, with live shrimp. We did well with mangrove snapper, catching 3 limits to 16 inches, along with keeper-sized Spanish mackerel, grunts and porkfish. Thursday, Bill and Ron Hoover fished with us, again in 30-35 feet off Naples. We caught a dozen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a keeper gag grouper, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We had a barracuda surface to eat two of the mackerel beside the boat. We released keeper-sized triggerfish and porkfish, along with numerous grouper shorts.
The Leonard White party fished Friday with us at the 240 Ledge. We caught and released approximately 200 pounds of gag grouper, all measuring 21 to 21 ½ inches, just short of keeper size. We had several break-offs by large fish. We caught eight mangrove snapper to 15 inches, along with keeper triggerfish, porkfish and jolthead porgies. We also released loads of blue runners. We had similar catches Saturday, fishing 18 miles out New Pass with Sandy Hook, son Rusty (no kidding on those names!), and nephews Matt & Ryan. We again caught and released over 200 pounds total of gag groupers that were one to ½ inch shy of legal size. We also caught keeper triggerfish to 15 inches, jolthead porgies, a dozen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, and an 18 inch hogfish. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
Terry Foreman and Jeff Eldridge fished with us Wednesday, 9 miles off Naples in 33 feet, with live shrimp. We did well with mangrove snapper, catching 3 limits to 16 inches, along with keeper-sized Spanish mackerel, grunts and porkfish. Thursday, Bill and Ron Hoover fished with us, again in 30-35 feet off Naples. We caught a dozen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a keeper gag grouper, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We had a barracuda surface to eat two of the mackerel beside the boat. We released keeper-sized triggerfish and porkfish, along with numerous grouper shorts.
The Leonard White party fished Friday with us at the 240 Ledge. We caught and released approximately 200 pounds of gag grouper, all measuring 21 to 21 ½ inches, just short of keeper size. We had several break-offs by large fish. We caught eight mangrove snapper to 15 inches, along with keeper triggerfish, porkfish and jolthead porgies. We also released loads of blue runners. We had similar catches Saturday, fishing 18 miles out New Pass with Sandy Hook, son Rusty (no kidding on those names!), and nephews Matt & Ryan. We again caught and released over 200 pounds total of gag groupers that were one to ½ inch shy of legal size. We also caught keeper triggerfish to 15 inches, jolthead porgies, a dozen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, and an 18 inch hogfish. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com