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Fishing Report for December 9, 2009--March
10, 2010
Tim Carberry and June DeJonge fished Estero
Bay with me on a windy Wednesday morning, 12/9. The two were admitted novices, but they
caught on quickly and had a good time fishing with live shrimp. We caught and released
four redfish to 17 ¾ inches, just ¼ inch short of legal keeper-size. We also caught a
keeper sheepshead at 13 inches and a 19-inch black drum.
Friday morning, I fished the bay with Jonathan
Tracy and friend, Jeff. The tide was low and slow and we tried to stay as sheltered as
possible from the twenty-knot winds that blew most of the morning. We caught keeper
sheepshead and mangrove snapper on shrimp.
Saturday, with seas still kicked up offshore, the
Dargis family decided to stick with the backwaters. Grandpa Leon, son, Brett, and
grandsons, Connor and Blake, caught and released redfish just short of keeper-size, along
with an 18 ½ inch snook. The group also caught keeper some sheepshead and a half-dozen
keeper mangrove snapper, all on shrimp.
Tuesday,
12/15, I fished Estero Bay with Alene Haug, Kalee McCarthur and Jeff Sailors. We caught
eighteen sheepshead, four of which were keeper-size to 18 ½ inches. Kalee released a
17-inch sheepshead, and we also released small mangrove snapper, crevalle jacks and a
small permit. We used shrimp for all, fishing the tree-lines and oyster bars.
On Wednesday, a weather front was predicted to
move through and kick up winds and seas in the afternoon, but the morning looked like it
would be decent offshore, so I headed out to 46 feet with Bill Story and friends, Dave,
Marvin and Ernie. We used live shrimp to catch a half-dozen keeper mangrove snapper to 17
inches, keeper whitebone porgies and grunts. We released lots of short mangrove and
yellowtail snappers, gag groupers to 20 ½ inches and triggerfish. We had a close
encounter with a king mackerel that was out to get me: We had thrown out a shrimp, which
was eaten by a blue runner and, as we reeled the blue runner in, a large kingfish cut it
in half and took off. He must have decided to come back for the other half and, when he
did, he jumped and hit the side of the boat, just missing landing inside—a foot
higher on his jump and he’d have jumped directly on the captain.!
As predicted, winds and seas picked up Thursday and heavy rains
moved in by late afternoon and persisted over-night and into Friday: No one was out on the
water. Winds remained blustery Saturday, and the next time I was on the water was Monday,
12/21.
I fished Monday in Estero Bay with Sue &
Roderick Price and daughter, Tessa. We caught a mess of sheepshead to 16-inches, a half
dozen keeper mangrove snapper, and a 15-inch pompano, all on live shrimp. We released
ladyfish.
The tide in Estero Bay wasn’t as favorable
on Tuesday, when I fished a catch-and-release trip with Harold Harris and friend, John.
The tide was low and going out all morning and into the early afternoon. We did okay with
live shrimp, though, and released two keeper-sized trout, which are currently
out-of-season, a 23-inch snook, ladyfish and keeper-sized sheepshead.
Wednesday, the marine forecast was a lot better
than the reality. I headed to the near-shore reefs with Tom Wolf and sons, Patrick and
Jordan. The winds blew hard all morning and were more northeasterly than straight out of
the east, as had been predicted. It made for tough anchoring and generally tough
conditions. But the boys hung in there and used shrimp to catch four keeper sheepshead to
16 inches. They released smaller sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, red grouper shorts and gag
grouper to 21 inches.
The Vince
Tomlinson family has made a tradition of fishing with me each Christmas–eve for a few
years now. Thursday, Vince, his recently married daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Joe,
and Vince’s son, Mike, fished Estero Bay with me, along the channel, on a very windy
morning. Fishing was tough again with the hard wind making it tough for the anglers to
feel bites. There were lots of nibblers out there, but few big ones. The group caught a
couple of keepers, though, including a 13-inch pompano and a 14-inch sheepshead. They
released smaller sheepshead, small mangrove snapper, a redfish, a permit, and a 20-inch
cobia, all on live shrimp.
Christmas weekend was reserved for family events, and I
was back on the water Monday, 12/28, when I fished Estero Bay with Tony and Becki Struble
and their three daughters, Katie, age fifteen, Anna, age thirteen, and Daisy, age seven.
The Strubles were visiting from Ft. Smith Arkansas and had spent this past week exploring
Disney World. Though we couldn’t provide quite that level of entertainment, they had
a great time learning to fish the bay with shrimp, on a catch-and-release trip. We caught
fifteen sheepshead, six of those keeper-sized to 18 inches, keeper-sized mangrove snapper,
and a small snook.
Tuesday, 12/29, the winds were blowing pretty
hard, but the Rob Wessels family decided they’d brave the morning at the near-shore
reefs, rather than fight a low tide fishing in the bay. We fished with live shrimp at May
Reef, where we caught seven keeper sheepshead to 18 inches, two keeper mangrove snapper
and a 15-inch pompano.
Wednesday morning, Sven and Corinne Peterson
fished at the near-shore reefs with me. The wind was still blowing hard most of the
morning and it was rough enough near-shore that we decided not to venture further
offshore. We caught four keeper sheepshead to 16 inches, keeper mangrove snapper and a
keeper triggerfish, all on shrimp. We released lots of bluefish, smaller sheepshead and
grouper-shorts.
I closed out this year fishing in Estero Bay with
long-time customer, Chester Yanik, his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Aimee, and their
two children, Jasmine, age ten, and Adam, age nine. We used live shrimp to catch about
twenty sheepshead, including a couple of keepers to 15 inches. We also caught a keeper
mangrove snapper, and we released the smaller sheepshead, a trout and a stingray.
Happy New Year to
all!
The
cold temperatures of last weekend persisted into this week, but Alene Haug, her daughter,
Emma, and family member, John, were brave enough to fish Estero Bay with me on a
very cold, windy late morning trip on Tuesday, 1/5/10. We used live shrimp to catch and
release one snook and two redfish, along with a couple dozen sheepshead. We caught a
few keeper -sized mangrove snapper also.
After cancelling a week's worth of fishing trips during
the windy, cold weather we have had, I finally made it offshore Wednesday morning,
1/13/10, with John & Karla Bolan, John's daughter, Alanna, and Caleb and Greg
Robertson. It wasn't at all warm when we headed out but, compared with the deep freeze of
the previous days, it almost seemed warm! We headed out nineteen miles from New Pass to
fish with live shrimp in 43 feet, and had a productive morning. We caught eleven nice
mangrove snapper to 17 inches, a 13-inch keeper lane snapper and a mess of grunts. The big
prize went to Caleb, who caught a 22-inch keeper gag grouper. We released lots of smaller
grouper and snapper.
Weather went downhill once again and I cancelled a few
more trips for the rest of that week. The following week 0f 1/18 was super-busy on the
books but Monday's and Tuesday's offshore trips were lost to more weather fronts that
kicked seas up into the three-to-six foot range.
Wednesday, 1/20,
seas laid down nicely and I had a great morning of fishing with Rick and Ann McGrath
and Orlando and Susan Ferrer. We headed out of New Pass to 43 feet and fished with live
shrimp. We did well with grouper and snapper, and caught two keeper gag grouper at 25
inches and 23 inches, and thirteen keeper-sized mangrove snapper to 18 1/2 inches. We also
caught a few keeper lane snapper and sheepshead, and we released lots of smaller grouper
and snapper, with steady action all morning.
Unfortunately,
those ideal conditions were short-lived. Another weather–front moved in and, as of
Thursday morning, there was a small craft advisory and seas of three-to-five feet
offshore. Friday was only slightly better in terms of seas, with strong winds and heavy
fog most of the day. Both my Thursday and Friday trips were for offshore and both had to
be cancelled.
Saturday,
seas were predicted to be two-to-four feet, but the wind’s strength led me to believe
that the seas would likely be at the higher end of the range. Since my anglers that day
included two six-year-olds, we voted to fish in the backwaters. We fished central Estero
Bay with live shrimp, and caught nine keeper whitings and a 15-inch sheepshead. We
released lots of smaller sheepshead, some crevalle jacks and lots of ladyfish.
The next
weather-front moved in overnight Sunday, bringing rain and gusty winds Monday
morning, and I had to cancel Monday's offshore trip. Tuesday's trip was also for
offshore and the seas, still in the 3-5 foot range, necessitated also cancelling that one.
Wednesday,
seas were still sloppy, but slightly better, with predictions of two-to-four feet out to
60 miles. I had a group of experienced, hardy anglers going with me, so we headed offshore
to 43 feet. If it hadn't been so sloppy we might have headed out further but, as it turned
out, we were exactly where we needed to be--We had an awesome day of fishing, using live
shrimp to catch a plethora of fish. We landed a 28-inch gag grouper, twenty-eight
beautiful mangrove snapper to just over 20 inches, three keeper hogfish to 17 inches,
three keeper lane snapper to 12 inches, and a few triggerfish that were keeper-size but
that we chose to release. We also released lots of smaller mangrove snapper, red grouper
and gag grouper.
Thursday, I headed back offshore to 46 feet, this time
with Drew Van Werden and his young sons, Gabe, age eight, and Charlie, age ten. We caught
a mess of nice mangrove snapper to 18 inches, two keeper sheepshead to 17 inches and a
22-inch, keeper red grouper. We released lots of undersized red and gag grouper,
triggerfish, grunts, porgies and a small hogfish. The boys had a great time, with steady
action all morning.
More rain, wind and high seas kept me off the water
Friday, 1/29 through Tuesday, 2/2.
On
Wednesday, 2/3, after watching the rain for the two preceding days, I finally got out
fishing. Seas were still rough offshore so I fished Estero Bay’s backwaters with Bob
Graham, daughter, Jenn Ness, her husband, Ryan Ness, and their adorable little boy, Graham
Ness. Using shrimp, we caught two keeper sheepshead at 14 inches and 17 inches and a 17
inch keeper whiting. We released loads of ladyfish, which kept little graham
amused—his 24-incher was almost as tall as he is! We also released lots of smaller
sheepshead and mangrove snapper.
Thursday
morning, I fished Estero Bay with John Hornell and his dad, Bud. We caught a 19-inch
sheepshead, four keeper whitings and we released lots of ladyfish, small snapper and
sheepshead. We used live shrimp for all.
Friday
was rainy and windy, but the skies cleared Saturday, as the next front moved through,
leaving a high pressure system in effect. Unfortunately, winds continued to be strong and
offshore plans had to be traded for a morning of bay fishing. Brian Distefano and friends,
Ron, Jim and Jim’s son, Nick, fished Estero Bay with me, using live shrimp. By
mid-morning, the winds were roaring so we stayed as sheltered as possible and managed to
catch five keeper sheepshead, all about 15 inches. We released lots of smaller ones.
As luck would have it, Monday was the one day this
week I did not have anyone scheduled to go fishing and it was the calmest day predicted
all week. None of my clients were able to change their schedules, so I had to let the
relatively calm conditions go unappreciated. The forecast for the rest of the week was not
at all encouraging, with seas up to nine feet predicted by mid-week to week's end.
The next time I got out on the water was
Thursday morning, and that was in the backwaters on a catch-and-release trip with Mike
Daley and son, Chris. It was chilly early on but warmed up nicely, and we delayed our
start a bit to allow the sun to warm the air temperature. We used live shrimp to catch
lots of sheepshead, the largest being 17 inches and 20 inches. We also released an 18-inch
trout and some ladyfish.
Friday’s five-to-seven foot seas prohibited my
offshore trip from going out. We might have fished the bay, but with cold winds and a 90%
chance of rain, the group decided to bag the trip entirely. Saturday morning, four brave
anglers headed into Estero Bay with in early morning temperatures of right around fifty
degrees, with a cold, NW wind gusting 25-30 knots. Shannon and Rob Staples and their
friends, Lisa and Bob O’Keefe fished in the most wind-sheltered spots I could find
for them. Using live shrimp, the group caught five keeper sheepshead to 18 inches and
released lots of smaller ones. Bob & Lisa also landed two nice trout at 19 inches and
17 inches.
Monday morning,
2/15, I had to look out the window and check the NOAA forecast twice to believe what I was
seeing and hearing...CALM seas! I couldn't have asked for a better day to fish offshore
with long-time customers, Jim Sistek, his son, Jim Sistek Jr., grandson, Ryan, Andy
Unger and his son, Dave, and friend, Frank Burkosky. We got out to 75 feet of water, 37
miles west of New Pass, where we had a great day of fishing with live shrimp. The only
thing that could have made it better would have been if grouper season wasn't closed
because we released four nice ones, three gags at 22, 23 and 25 inches, along with a
21-inch red grouper. We also caught our limit of mangrove snapper, the largest one being
24 inches and nine pounds, which is among the largest I have seen around here. The
next largest was 21 inches and all of them were respectable size, mostly 16 to 17 inches.
We also caught two keeper hogfish, 14 inches each, keeper sheepshead to 17 inches,
grunts,and several nice whitebone porgies to 17 inches.
Tuesday
morning, 2/16, after a gorgeous day offshore on Monday, seas were back to their usual for
this winter—rough, with small craft advisories issued. Brad Urlaub and family traded
their offshore fishing plans for a morning of bay fishing. We used live shrimp to catch
lots of sheepshead, including three keepers measuring 13 inches, 15 inches and 17 inches.
We also caught a 15-inch whiting and a 12-inch mangrove snapper. We released lots of
ladyfish, along with the smaller sheepshead.
Wednesday morning found
me back in the bay, as there were again small-craft advisories offshore. I fished with
Frank Partee, son Mike and daughter-in-law, Ginger. We caught five keeper sheepshead to 17
inches and released some smaller sheepshead and some ladyfish.
Thursday
was a chilly morning, when I fished with Mike Daley and daughter, Elizabeth Hayes, in
Estero Bay. We used live shrimp to catch nine keeper whitings to 16 inches.
Friday,
seas began a calming trend, so I headed offshore for a day of fishing with Bill Conklin,
his son Eric, and friends Mike Grandominico and Dennis Baker. We fished in 73 feet, 37
miles west of New Pass, and did well. We released four keeper grouper (due to closed
season), three gags to 26 inches and a 21-inch red grouper. We also caught two keeper
hogfish at 14 inches and 16 inches, nine mangrove snapper to 18 ½ inches, and some nice
whitebone porgies to 18 inches, all on live shrimp.
Bill
Conklin and friends, who fished with me Friday, had originally planned to fish one day
gulf-side and one day bay-side but, after seeing the low water in the bay and the calm
seas offshore, they decided to take advantage of the good offshore conditions and head out
again on Saturday. We fished 22 miles west of New Pass with live shrimp. We did very well
with snapper and hogfish again, as well as sheepshead. The group caught six hogfish, five
of which were keepers raging in size from 14 inches to 16 inches. They also caught a dozen
keeper mangrove snapper to 18 inches, three whitebone porgies to 15 inches, grunts, and
three keeper sheepshead, the largest of which was a whopping 24 inches and 8 pounds. We
released two 24-inch gag grouper, due to closed grouper season, along with smaller
sheepshead.
Monday, 2/22,
we awoke to rain. It was light on shore but there was rain out to 40 miles offshore and my
party of six felt like conditions were too unstable to get out there so they postponed
their trip. Unfortunately, Tuesday's trip had to cancel due to a family-medical issue.
Wednesday
morning, I headed offshore ahead of the next weather front, while seas were still calm.
But morning fog was thick with about 1/8 mile visibility most of the morning. Mike
Connealy and daughter, Mandi, fished with me in 43 feet, about 20 miles west of New Pass.
Using live shrimp, we caught nine mangrove snapper to 18 inches. We released two grouper,
due to closed season: a 20-inch red grouper and a 24-inch gag. We also released lots of
shorts, including triggerfish, snapper, grouper, porkfish and grunts.
Thursday
morning was another chilly, windy one. I fished the backwaters with Eduardo Heriques and
his two sons, Eduardo Jr. and Richie. We used live shrimp to catch five keeper sheepshead
to 18 inches and an 18 ½ inch trout.
Friday,
seas were predicted at two-to-four feet and I hoped to get offshore but, with morning
wind-chills in the thirties, by customers wanted no part of being on the water. And, as I
am posting this report, I await a call from my Saturday anglers to see if they were able
to get out of the airport in N.Y. or not yesterday, with a massive snowstorm up that way.
This is shaping up to be a winter of record, to say the least.
Ed and Marge
Bock fished Estero Bay with me Monday morning, March 1st. Though predictions were for 2-3
foot seas out to twenty miles, after the rough conditions of the previous several days, I
expected sloppy seas and a swell, so I advised the Bocks to fish bayside instead. Using
live shrimp, we caught a 16-inch trout and two keeper sheepshead to 16 inches. We released
lots of smaller sheepshead.
Tuesday,
we awoke to gusty winds and thunderstorms. I had to reschedule the trip I had planned in
the bay.
Wednesday
morning, 3/3, was chilly and windy but my brave party of three lady-anglers, Alene Haug,
her mother, Carrie and friend, Connie, decided to give the backwaters a try anyway. We
caught and released sheepshead until the ladies decided they'd had enough cold, then we
headed back for shore.
Thursday
morning, I fished Estero Bay with John Kenney and his eight-year-old son, Anthony. We had
to bundle up and try to stay out of the wind as best we could, but we had fun using live
shrimp to catch and release seven sheepshead to 12 inches, three trout to just short of15
inches, and a 16-inch whiting.
My trip
for Friday cancelled, as two in the party wanted to wait for better conditions and warmer
temperatures.
By
Monday morning, 3/8, a nice warming and calming trend was in effect. I fished 20 miles
west of New Pass in 45 feet with Bob Wojtowicz, his son, Greg, and grandson, Josh, along
with family friend, Bob Bradley. We used live shrimp and caught keeper mangrove snapper,
sheepshead, porkfish and jolthead porgies. We released triggerfish shorts, as well as lots
of red and gag grouper, the largest of which was a 26 ½ inch gag, caught by Bob Bradley.
Grouper season re-opens April 1st.
Tuesday
morning, I sure was happy to see calm seas for long-time customer Ron Musick. So far this
season, Ron had tried to get out offshore nine times and had been foiled by weather each
time. But Tuesday was a good day for Ron and his friends, Dick Arnett, Eddie Alfonso and
hank Scheroski. We fished in 45 feet out of New Pass, using live shrimp and caught keeper
mangrove snapper to 19 inches, two 14-inch keeper hogfish, a half-dozen keeper sheepshead
to 18 inches, and some good-sized whitebone porgies and grunts. Ron landed and released a
28-inch gag grouper and scored best catch of the day.
Alene Haug,
daughter-in-law, Margie Kempfort, and friend, Cali McCarthur fished with me on Wednesday
morning, in 45 feet west of New Pass. We caught two keeper hogfish at 15 inches and 16
inches, two keeper sheepshead, 15 inches and 18 inches, and a 13-inch mangrove snapper. We
released red and gag grouper. Seas were calm most of the morning, but it did begin to get
a little sloppy by noon time.
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Good
Fishing!
God Bless America
sushi at its freshest!
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