“Happy Easter” to all you fellow anglers, the past week provided great weather and plenty of rod bending action. The warmer weather raised water temperatures and the fish reacted with a feeding frenzy. Hopefully April brings warm weather and plenty of bait our way.
The snook bite really turned on as water temperatures were ion the rise, top water plugs or live mullet free lined got the linesiders attention. The snook have been schooling up the past week and many of the snook ranging from 6 to 20 pounds. Docks, seawalls and flats are the best areas to locate the snook, doa jigs on a 1/8 ounce jig head will get the rod bent. Night time snook fishing is another great way to get the drag screaming, shrimp, small twitch baits and flies all entice the snook to feed.
Tarpon action has been great on channel edges and in canals. Live baits have been the best choice to get hooked up with the silver king, small swim baits in green and baby bass colors on a ¼ ounce jig head entices strikes. The tarpon have been averaging 5 to 25 pounds.
Jack crevalles are roaming the sea walls and channels these fish are ferocious, taking live baits and top water plugs. The jacks hang in schools and range in size from 5 to 30 pounds. Jigs worked fast off the bottom entice schoolie fish to strike with a vengeance, light tackle is a blast with these fish, hold on tight.
Sheepshead fishing has been stellar dock pilings and seawalls have held big fish and schoolie fish. Live shrimp on a size 1 hook gets the drag screaming, the best part is sight fishing for these creatures they willingly take fly and pull hard. The average size of the sheepies has been 1 to 5 pounds.
Well that is the fishing report for the past week hope you all enjoyed. Remember you can’t catch them from the couch, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight Lines! Capt. Craig Korczynski, PhlatsInshoreFishing.com, 561-644-4371
After a cancelled trip on Monday, I got out fishing Tuesday, 2/19, as winds and seas finally began to calm down from their week-long highs of 30 knot gusts and 4-12 foot seas. It was still a little sloppy so I stayed near-shore, about 12 miles off Naples Beach, where I fished with frequent customers Ron Musick and Eddie Alfonso, joined by friend Kay Daugherty. The group used live shrimp to catch eleven nice, keeper mangrove snapper to 15 ½ inches and ten nice sheepshead keepers to 16 inches. They released five would-be-keeper gag grouper to 29 inches, but had to release them all, due to closed season.
Larkin Hosmer, friend Eric, and Eric's son-in-law, Merrill, fished a catch and release trip with me in Estero Bay on Thursday, 2/21, where they used live shrimp to catch a dozen sheepshead and a 13 1/2 inch black drum.
Friday morning, I fished near-shore, about 5 miles out of New Pass, with long-time customers Jim McGrath and Bill Crockett. The guys used live shrimp to catch thirty-five sheepshead, releasing all but fifteen of those, which were between 14 and 16 inches long. They also caught a keeper hogfish at 17 inches, and released lots of short mangrove snapper. Lines were broken off four times by something big, but we never got to see what it was.
Saturday morning, seas kicked up somewhat, though not as much as they are predicted to do for much of the following week. I fished a catch-and-release trip at the Bonita Beach near-shore reefs with Greg Haas and Rick John. The guys used live shrimp to catch sixty sheepshead to 15 inches, mangrove snapper to 12 inches, red grouper and triggerfish shorts, and a 21-inch gag grouper.
Monday, 2/25, I fished the near-shore reefs with frequent customer, Mike Connealy, his daughter, Mandy Ewig, and her husband, Brett Ewig. The sheepshead bite was on, and the group used live shrimp to catch twenty-four of those in all, keeping the nine largest ones in the 15-to-16-inch range. They also caught grunts, and released mangrove snapper shorts, puffer-fish, and two gag grouper at 25 1/2 inches and 23 inches.
By Tuesday, a very windy weather pattern was here, with seas building to seven feet offshore, along with low tides and gusty winds in the bay, and I remained in port. The seas forecast was just as bad for Wednesday, though the winds had subsided quite a bit. John and Jane Vilkaitis traded their original offshore fishing plans for a morning of fishing the backwaters of Estero Bay.The couple used live shrimp to catch seventeen sheepshead in all, keeping two of those and releasing the rest.
Thursday, 2/28, seas were calmer than they had been and calmer than they were predicted to be in a few days. So, I took that window of opportunity to fish about twelve miles west of New Pass, where we had about a three-foot swell, but tolerable seas, for most of the day. Ron Musick, Eddie Alfonso and friends, Bob and Jack, used live shrimp to box sixteen mangrove snapper to 14 inches and seven sheepshead to 15 inches.
Friday, seas were rougher, but Dennis page, Arnie Sancaitier, Jack Scott, and Jack’s son, Kevin Scott, were hardy enough to fish the near-shore reefs on a catch-and-release trip, using live shrimp for bait. They caught and released eleven sheepshead to 16 inches, two Spanish mackerel at 22 inches and 24 inches, and several gag and red grouper to 20 inches.
Saturday brought hard winds and seven-foot seas. I cancelled my planned trip for that day, and remained in port through the chilly and blustery weekend. Monday’s 43-degree temps weren’t too enticing to many anglers, but I am happy to see warmer temps and calm seas predicted for Tuesday.
The photo shown is of angler Brett Ewig with a 16-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip. These larger sheepshead are one of the best parts of winter fishing. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Lots of Action & a 20-inch Hogfish!
Tuesday, 1/8, I headed well offshore, 37 miles west of New Pass, with frequent customer Ron Musick and friends, Eddie Alfonso, Dick Arnett and Ralph Lussluer. We had a good day fishing with live shrimp, and the guys landed four keeper red grouper, 21 ½ inches, 22 ½ inches, 24 inches and the prize winner at 27 inches. They also kept seven whitebone porgies to 18 ½ inches, and released eighteen others, since they had no need for that many fish. Added to the fish-box were four keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches. The guys released a 16-inch amberjack and six gag grouper to 18 inches. A couple of big sharks were around and bit off a couple catches but we managed to reel in most of them!
Wednesday morning I fished Estero Bay's backwaters with Vince Graham, Bernie Saltor, and Denny Mascioli. The guys used live shrimp to catch two keeper redfish at 19 inches and 21 inches, along with a 15-inch keeper sheepshead an 18-inch black drum keeper, and a 12-inch keeper mangrove snapper. They released ten smaller sheepshead.
Thursday, with seas predicted to be two-to-three feet offshore, I headed out only about seven miles before we encountered three-to-five-foot seas. John Leahy and friends toughed it out, and caught and released a 28-inch gag grouper, which bit a grunt that was being reeled in. They also caught and released seven additional gag and red grouper shorts, a small triggerfish, and a bunch of blue runners. They took home some pan-fish too, with four porgies to 14 inches, a 22-inch Spanish mackerel, and seven good-sized grunts.
Friday, seas were considerably calmer than they’d been the day before, and I was able to get out nineteen miles, with frequent customer Mike Connealy and his friends, Rick Rosen and John Pound. The guys used live shrimp to catch a mess of lane snapper, ten of which were keepers to 12 inches. They also caught porgies to 14 inches, and released lots of gag and red grouper shorts to 18 inches.
Saturday morning, seas were still calm enough to head offshore, where I fished, using live shrimp in 38 feet, with brothers Bill and Bob Latham, Bob graham, Dell Bowden, and Rich Meyer. The guys caught a keeper hogfish at 13 inches and released a 22 ½-inch gag grouper, due to closed season. They also caught a mess of porgies, including half a dozen nice-sized keepers, some large grunts, a brace of 13-inch keeper mangrove snapper, and a 20-inch Spanish mackerel. In addition to the extra porgies, they released two smaller snapper, a dozen red-grouper shorts, fifteen gag grouper shorts, a 15-inch scamp grouper, triggerfish to 15 inches, and a small kingfish.
Monday, 1/14, I headed out nineteen miles west of New Pass with Fred Matthews, Harry Rigsby, and Hal Bennett. The guys had good success fishing with live shrimp, and caught a keeper red grouper at 21 ½ inches, five nice whitebone porgies to 17 inches, a 13-inch keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead at 13 inches, and a mess of grunts. They released lots of red grouper shorts, a gag grouper (due to closed season) and a short triggerfish.
Tuesday morning brought calm seas, and I headed out 22 miles from New Pass with Mike and Barb Haacke and Bruce and Beth Garner. The couples planned to head back north the following morning, so they had no interest in keeping fish—just catching them! They did well with that mission, using live shrimp and small grunts to land three keeper-sized red grouper to 22 inches, as well as the largest hogfish I’ve encountered in my many years of catching them: This beauty was a full 20 inches, and was gratefully accepted as a gift to the captain! The group also released a few gag grouper, a few short yellowtail snapper, porgies and grunts. There were signs of red tide out there, with lots of dead mullet around, but it sure didn’t hurt our fishing one bit!
Wednesday, I fished all day with John Rankin, Norm Grieve, Ferrell Fulkerson, Peter Tam and Gary Jackson, and Bob Fulertec, 37 miles west of New Pass, where the guys used live shrimp to catch a nice variety of fish. Red grouper were abundant, but we only got one that was a keeper, at 22 inches. We released lots of red grouper shorts, along with four scamp-grouper shorts. Added to the bag were a mess of nice whitebone porgies, all of which were about 17 inches, along with a dozen nice keeper mangrove snapper to 16 inches, three keeper 12-inch yellowtail snapper, a keeper porkfish at 12 inches, and a keeper triggerfish at 14 1/4 inches. We had several sharks try to terrorize our catches, along with sea turtles also out for a free meal. The turtles managed to eat a couple of our catches as they were being reeled in, and the turtles' powerful jaws actually crushed the heads of a few fish, leaving jaw imprints. But the guys came in with plenty of fish, despite the competition!
Thursday, a weather-front came through the area, and small craft advisories were in effect by 10 AM, so I had to cancel my offshore trip for that day. Friday brought howling winds, cold temperatures, low tide, and a bit of drizzle, and I cancelled my bay trip, due to poor conditions. Add to that a little red tide, which has been plaguing our inland waterways for the past week or so, and conditions remained poor in the bay for Saturday's trip, which I also cancelled. So that's it for now, and I am hoping for some improved conditions soon.
The photo shown is of angler Mike Haacke with a 20-inch hogfish (the largest I have seen around here), caught on shrimp on a recent offshore trip. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Winter Sheepshead are Back...and Bi
The first week of December was kind of slow around here, which is typical for the few weeks between Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday rush. But I did get out fishing in Estero Bay, on a catch-and-release trip with Dave and Diane Carey on Friday, 12/7/12. The couple used live shrimp to catch twenty sheepshead to 14 inches, eight of which were would-be keepers, along with one keeper-sized mangrove snapper at 13 inches, two puffer-fish and two stingrays.
My next trip wasn’t until ten days later, the interim filled with lots of rainy, windy weather. On Monday, 12/17, I fished Estero Bay’s backwaters with Greg Sturley, his son, Chris, and his father-in-law, Richard. Using live shrimp, the guys caught ten sheepshead, three of which were 14-inch keepers, along with three keeper mangrove snapper at 12 inches each. They released two 16-inch crevalle jacks, a couple of puffer-fish, and a couple of rays.
Wednesday morning, 12/19, I again fished the backwaters, this time with Robert and Kim Rzepiela. The couple used live shrimp to catch three keeper sheepshead, all in the 13-14-inch range, a keeper mangrove snapper, and a 16-inch pompano. They released ten smaller sheepshead and three stingrays.
Today, Friday, 12/21, I cancelled my offshore trip in the face of 25 knot winds and 5-foot seas. A cold front has made it all this way south, and is predicted to drop our usually tropical temperatures to a chilly 40 degrees tonight.
Happy holidays to all!
The photo shown is of angler Rich Honsa, with a 19 ½-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp on a recent trip.
Tuesday, 11/20, I fished inshore in Estero Bay with Al Tooley and his thirteen-year-old son, Aiden. The guys caught a 20-inch, keeper redfish, along with five keeper sheepshead to 15 inches, all on shrimp. They released seven smaller sheepshead and two stingrays.
Wednesday morning, I again fished central Estero Bay, using live shrimp, this time with Tim Fox, his son, Eli, and his father-in-law, Alan Zeilinger. The sheepshead were abundant and biting well, and the trio caught fifteen of those in all, including nine nice keepers to 16 inches. We had one sheepie boat-side that was about 20 inches, but it snapped the line at the last minute. The guys also released three crevalle jacks, all about 5 pounds, along with four stingrays and two puffer-fish.
Ron & Janet Farqueherson fished a catch-and-release trip with me Saturday morning in Estero Bay, using live shrimp. The couple caught and released a brace of 17 ½ inch redfish, along with two keeper-sized sheepshead to 16 inches, five keeper-sized mangrove snapper, a brace of 16-inch black drum, and two puffer-fish.
Monday, 11/26, I headed out to fish with Todd Flemmin and Eddie Alfonso, 28 to 35 miles west of New Pass. We had live shrimp and squid, and used both with good success. The guys caught three keeper red grouper at 21 ½ inches, 22 ½ inches and 23 inches. They released about twenty shorter ones. They also caught nineteen beautiful mangrove snapper, all of which were in the 15-inch to 16-inch range, as well as three nice yellowtail snapper that were 13 inches each. The whitebone porgies were large and plentiful, and the guys kept four 15-inch porgies, out of twenty they caught. They also caught nine large grunts, and kept four of those that were 16 inches. They released two gag grouper that were 21 inches each. All in all it was a very productive and beautiful day on the water.
Long time customers, Erwin and Millie Metusiak, fished with me Tuesday morning, about 18 miles west of New Pass, using live shrimp. The couple caught three keeper mangrove snapper to 12 ½ inches, and kept six whitebone porgies to 18 inches, out of about twenty caught. They also caught a keeper hogfish at 15 inches. They released three 21-inch gag grouper, ten red grouper shorts, a 15 ½ inch scamp grouper, six triggerfish to 13 ½ inches, and blue runners.
Saturday morning, I fished central Estero Bay with Rich and Nancy Honsa, using live shrimp. The sheepshead bite was hot, and the couple caught fifteen nice ones to 19 ½ inches. They only wanted enough for a meal, so they kept the biggest one and released the rest. They also released five keeper-sized mangrove snapper to 11 inches and two puffer-fish.
The photo shown is of angler, Eddie Alfonso, with a 23-inch red grouper, one of three red grouper keepers caught on shrimp on an offshore trip 11/26/12. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
The last three days the weather has been mild, with temperatures in the low 60’s, and moderate winds out of the northeast. The bit of chop and swell resulting from the northeast wind has produced some great fishing. We have caught a few sailfish trolling on fresh mullet strips, prepared from some of the mullet we’ve netted as they move down the beach. The mahi-mahi have been abundant out in 600-800 feet of water. On the 15th we found the remnants of a cuban raft floating offshore that had a nice school of dolphin swimming underneath. The next day we found a 55 gallon drum floating offshore and it too was loaded with mahi-mahi, up to 10 lbs. We are always on the lookout for floating debris as it invariably attracts tripletail, mahi-mahi and wahoo. No wahoo were landed from around the raft or drum, but we landed three nice fish while trolling live bonito around from 150 to 300 feet of water.
The Friday night driftfishing off Fort Lauderdale turned into another snapper fest, as our anglers landed 50 snappers, including yellowtail, lanes and mangroves. They also hooked up 60 blue runners, a barracuda, and a small shark. That’s over 100 fish in one four hour trip! Fort Lauderdale fishing sure is exceptional this time of year and the Lady Pamela Sportfishing fleet is making the most of these great fishing opportunities.
Tight Lines,
Capt David Ide
954 761 8045 www.ladypamela2.com
Saturday, 10/20, I fished with long-time customer Marshall Swain, along with his family and friends. We used live shrimp, about 22 miles west of New Pass, and the group caught twenty-five keeper lane snapper to 12 inches, along with one keeper mangrove snapper at 13 inches. They released a half dozen smaller mangs, along with fifteen undersized red grouper to 19 7/8 inches (so close but not close enough!) They also released five yellowtail snapper shorts, grunts, porgies and a brace of 18-inch lesser amberjacks.
We had some wild winds and some rain preceding Hurricane Sandy, and we deferred the trip we had scheduled for Friday, 10/26 to Monday, which was the final day of Jalissa Reever’s and Steve Spitzer’s visit. Monday, winds and seas were still way to strong to venture offshore, but there was no rain, and we were able to fish inshore in Estero Bay, where we used live shrimp, along the edges toward Wiggins Pass. The couple released nine sheepshead shorts and three snook that were 16 inches, 18 inches and 19 inches. They caught a keeper permit at 13 ½ inches and a keeper redfish at 18 ½ inches.
After Hurricane Sandy left the coastline, it took until Thursday for seas to be calm enough to tolerate offshore. I fished that day, 11/1, with Bert Van Kooten, Ron Dallimore, Norman Grieve and John Rankin. We fished 17 miles west of New Pass, using live shrimp, and the guys caught a good variety of fish. Catches included twenty keeper lane snapper to 12 inches, fifteen decent-sized grunts, and ten porgies to 12 inches. They released fifteen yellowtail snapper shorts, five red grouper shorts, and a 30-inch bonnet-head shark.
Friday morning I fished several spots in central Estero Bay and down toward Wiggins Pass with Greg Sills and Phil Jicklititer. The guys used live shrimp to catch a 19 ½-inch redfish and three keeper sheepshead, two at 15 inches and one at 13 inches. They released ten shorter sheepshead, two crevalle jacks and a stingray.
The photo shown is of angler, John Rankin, with a 30-inch Bonnethead-shark, caught on shrimp and released on a recent offshore trip. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
After some rainy days, one no-show customer (that makes twice within a month, and is oh-so annoying), and a few seasonally slow days, I finally got out fishing again on Tuesday, 10/9, when I fished 22 miles west of New Pass with Scott Severaid, Gregg Hass, Todd Vershaw, Jason White and Mike Wernsman. We used pinfish for our big-game fishing and shrimp for table-fare. The guys caught and released an 80-pound goliath grouper (photo shown). Red grouper were abundant, though we didn’t land any keepers. We released about fifty of those, to 19 ¾ inches, just shy of keeper-size. The group also released twenty mangrove snapper shorts. They caught about twenty lane snapper, a dozen of which were keepers, along with a keeper porkfish and a mess of grunts.
Thursday, 10/11, I headed out 22 miles from New Pass in some rough morning seas, which calmed somewhat later in the day. I fished with Dave Carey, Steve Wanner, John Faletto and George Siamuanes. We used live shrimp for everything but the groupers, which preferred pinfish. The guys caught about forty lane snapper, twenty of which were keepers at 11-12 inches. They also caught a half dozen 11-inch, keeper porkfish, a keeper mangrove snapper, a mess of grunts and a few nice whitebone porgies. They released twenty red grouper to 19 ½ inches, along with ladyfish, two dozen yellowtail snapper shorts and a couple dozen mangrove shorts. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
Snook fishing at night has been outstanding but early morning seasons provides explosive top water action with spooks.. Live baits or lures worked along shadow lines of lights draws many strikes, but if lures are not your choice bait nothing beats a finger mullet. The fish are schooling and feeding on both sides of the tides, moving water is a must.
Juvenile tarpon are abundant in back bays and canals but the big 50 to 80 pound tarpon are all inside the inlets and deep channels. Nigh fishing and sunrise have been the most productive, crank baits, jigs and live baits all provoke strikes. Beach fishing provides shoots at tarpon as well but a stealthy approach is a must and be sure to use a light leader and small hook. Live mullet and greenies gets the silver kings excited but when in doubt a live crab can be a game changer.
The seawalls and docks are great areas for locating Jacks for those anglers in search of a tug a war. The Jacks are schooled up, ambushing bait schools as they migrate down shorelines. The Jacks will hammer any live bait and artificial lure that crosses there path. The average size of the Jacks has been 1 to 15 pounds.
Well that is the fishing report for the past week, hope you all enjoyed. Remember you cant catch them from the couch, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight Lines! Capt. Craig Korczynski PhlatsInshoreFishing.com, 561-644-4371
SW FL Bonita Beach Good Variety, even caught a scamp!
Labor Day Monday, 9/3, I fished at the near-shore reefs with Brian Lucas and his two young sons, Grady and Grant, along with Cadrin Cojanu and his two young children, Ben and Emily. The group used live shrimp to catch four Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, five pompano, all around 14 inches, a keeper mangrove snapper and a keeper lane snapper. They released a 24-inch cobia, along with blue runners and ladyfish.
After a couple of weeks off the water, due to lots of rain, wind, and our typical late-summer scarcity of bookings, I fished a catch-and-release trip in the backwaters of Estero Bay on Wednesday, 9/19, with Chris Romey and his wife, Kaylyn. The couple used live shrimp to catch and release ten mangrove snapper, two sheepshead, a 17-inch snook, and a crevalle jack.
Thursday, 9/20, I fished Estero Bay with Erinn Hanson and Liz Sherer, of Minnesota. The girls used live shrimp to catch four sheepshead, one of which was a keeper at 13 inches. They also caught a 14-inch permit and a 14-inch flounder. They released a stingray and fifteen small mangrove snapper.
Friday, we awoke to some unexpected rain showers, so I delayed my near-shore trip for a while, until the rains passed through. I headed to the near-shore reefs off Bonita Beach with Bob Wickham, his son, John Wickham, and friend, Stephen Schoepfer. The guys used live shrimp to catch and release thirty mangrove snapper shorts, gag grouper shorts to 20 inches, and a few whitebone porgies. Keepers included six lane snapper to 12 inches, a 16-inch flounder. a 15-inch sea-trout and a silver porgy.
Saturday morning also began with rain, but it was light and sporadic, so I figured I could dodge it, and I headed out about 19 miles west of New Pass with Drs. Meir and Rie Daller, their young sons, Brenden and Julian, and friends Alejandro Miranda-Sausa and his teen-aged son, Gabriel.The group used live shrimp to catch twenty keeper lane snapper, all around 11 inches, a keeper yellowtail snapper, three keeper whitebone porgies, two Spanish mackerel keepers to 25 inches, and a 16-inch keeper scamp-grouper. They released two red grouper to 18 inches, ten yellowtail-shorts, and a mess of blue runners. One angler hooked a big shark, but it cut the line before we could identify what kind it was.
The photo shown is of angler, Stuart Wisely, with a 29-inch gag grouper, caught on a pinfish, on a recent offshore trip. You can check out all of our shark and goliath grouper action videos at the following link:
Snooking Good
SW FL Bonita Beach Near Shore Reefs Productive
Tuesday, 1/8, I headed well offshore, 37 miles west of New Pass, with frequent customer Ron Musick and friends, Eddie Alfonso, Dick Arnett and Ralph Lussluer. We had a good day fishing with live shrimp, and the guys landed four keeper red grouper, 21 ½ inches, 22 ½ inches, 24 inches and the prize winner at 27 inches. They also kept seven whitebone porgies to 18 ½ inches, and released eighteen others, since they had no need for that many fish. Added to the fish-box were four keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches. The guys released a 16-inch amberjack and six gag grouper to 18 inches. A couple of big sharks were around and bit off a couple catches but we managed to reel in most of them!
