We scrapped offshore plans Wednesday, in the face of 4-6 foot seas, and we fished instead in some Estero Bay holes. The tide was incoming, but very low, and the winds were strong. We caught a couple of keeper mangrove snapper and sheepshead, and released a redfish and a snook. The highlight of the trip was a huge, 25 pound cravalle jack, photographed and released, after a 45 minute battle.
The winds and seas were rough on Thursday, and not much better on Friday. But, Friday’s group decided to give offshore fishing a try. With dead low tides in the bay, the prospects there didn’t look too good, so we headed offshore, planning to stay close in, around the reefs, where it would be a little calmer than out further. We caught keeper mangrove snapper, grunts, and triggerfish, and released gag shorts, along with a 4 pound goliath grouper. By that time the 4-5 foot seas were getting too rough to stand up and fish, so we headed in a little after noon.
The photo attached is of an unusually large (for this area), 25 pound cravalle jack, caught in Estero Bay this past Wednesday.
