The weather took a more summer like turn this past week with warmer temperatures and a bit less wind. The southerly flow pushed water up into Estero Bay on the afternoon high tides and that made for some great fishing in the back bays and creeks.
On a personal note... Capt. Sean Davis of Fish Warrior Charters, who reports his catches here regularly, is off the water after an appendectomy. We wish him a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Sean. The snook miss you!
Capt. Rob Modys of SoulMate Charters reported a steady snook bite this week along the east wall of Estero Bay. His catches included several slot fish along with a few oversized ones caught on large thread fin hearings. He said it’s still tough to get bait off the beaches with the large swells but with a bit of work you can catch what you need at the bridges. Redfish have finally started showing up in better numbers. Capt. Rob recommends working the oyster bars in the north part of the bay with cut ladyfish or threads. Trout are still doing well with the early bite being best. Once the wind starts to pick up it gets harder to located them on the flats. The surprise catch of the week was a 30 inch cobia caught in Hell Peckney Bay.
Capt. Brad Brown of Moonlite Charters also reported a steady snook bite in Estero Bay. His charters caught several keeper sized snook by casting large thread fins around mangrove islands and docks. Redfish are also biting much better near the oyster bars and in the backcountry mangroves. Jacks and ladyfish are also being caught along with sea trout on the open flats. The most unusual catch of the week was a 24 inch barracuda caught near Mound Key.
Capt. Brett Swenson reported a solid offshore bite this week but the winds still played a part in how far out he could fish. The spanish mackerel are showing up in pretty good numbers but the schools are small and you have to work to locate them. Lots of bonnet head and black tip sharks can be found near the mackerel and are tons of fun on lighter tackle. Capt. Brett said that his charters are getting good catches of pompano using small jig heads tipped with shrimp near the passes. The catch of the week was a monster crevalle jack caught near shore on light tackle. It took 30 minutes to land it and it was hit by a shark during the battle.
Capt. Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters said that Estero Bay produced lots of fun fishing action last week. The improving weather got his anglers onto some great catches of snook, redfish, spotted sea trout and “tons” of snapper. The grass flats near Mound Key produced some nice size trout caught on shrimp under popping corks. Redfish were still a bit spread out this week but a few slot fish were caught on live shrimp and jig combos. Capt. Mike also reported lots of whiting, ladyfish and spanish mackerel in the deeper cuts of the back bay.
Book your Fishing adventure today!!!
Until then, Bent Rods and Screaming Drags.
Captain Sean A. Davis
Fish Warrior Charters
www.fishwarrior.com
239-482-2332
239-253-2729 Cell
Email: sean@fishwarrior.com
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