Fishing Reports Archive
October 8, 2015
The fishing has started to get into the fall pattern and this means hungry fish. The redfish are feeding on just about anything from artificial top water plugs to cut ladyfish. Anglers looking for these spot tails should fish the oyster bars and surrounding flats with the tidal flows, they are hanging around the transition zones looking for food. Shrimp on 2/0 circle hooks with #3 split shot or shrimp under popping corks will work as well. On higher water they can be found along the mangorve edges in the shade under the overhanging limbs. Chumming helps bring them out, break up shrimp or cut ladyfish and wait. There are plenty of snapper in these areas and they will feed when the tide goes slack, so the are a perfect time waster while waiting for the reds to move. Snook have been feeding under the floating docks and nearby mangrove shorelines and will take free lined pinfish on 3/0 circle hooks.
September 22, 2015
The fishing in and around Estero Bay is starting to really heat up. The water temps are cooling a bit and the fish are feeding. The neashore bite is teaming with spanish mackerel chasing the small glass minnows and will gladly take silver spoons casted toward the bait or trolled along the edges. The passes are holding pompano, whiting, silver trout, spotted seatrout, small sharks, and snapper. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads will work as will shrimp under popping corks. The backbay redfish bite is getting better and free lined pinfish on 2/0 circle hooks or shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. Work the mangrove shorelines and oyster bars on higher water then as the tide recedes move away and work the grass flats. Snook will take free lined pinfish on 3/0 circle hooks around the floating docks and mangrove edges near the passes on strong tides.
September 14, 2015
Anglers best bet this past week was the nearshore reefs. Trolling these rock piles produced good numbers of spanish mackerel up to 28 inches. Silver spoons seemed to work best. There were also plenty of birds which helped locate the small bait pods where they mac's were hanging out. Moving into shallow water just outside the passes produced plenty of ladyfish, whiting, and silver trout. Dragging shrimp tipped jig heads was the go-to method. The water in the passes is still dirty so the snook bite was finicky but they would take free lined pinfish on 3/0 circle hooks thrown under the floating docks on strong tides. Anglers looking for redfish with these pins had the best luck weighing them down under the docks along the bottom. There is still plenty of snapper feeding along the mangrove islands and oyster bars and shrimp tipped jig heads worked fine.
September 3, 2015
Anglers looking for the best opportunities were out early taking advantage of the cooler air temps. The redfish bite seemed to be better around the mangroves islands and oyster bars on the higher water. Cut ladyfish, pinfish under floats, or even shimp on circle hooks with split shot worked fine. There was also a decent topwater artificial bite with flukes, zara spooks, or rapala skitterwalks. The nearshore reefs are teaming with baitfish and the spanish mackerel are feeding like crazy. Silver spoons or free lined shrimp on 2/0 circle hooks provided anglers with plenty of rod bending action. Don't be surprised if there are some "silver kings" mixed in feeding on all those bait balls. Throwing topwater will be your best chance for hooking one.
August 11, 2015
We had some tough tides this past week which made the fishing a little tougher for anglers. The redfish that were caught seemed to be around the oyster bars and mangroves on higher water. Free lined pinfish on 2/0 circle hooks or shrimp under popping corks will work best. Chumming with cut bait and shrimp seemed to help get things going. Snook fishing proved troublesome, but there were a few around the floating docks and mangrove shorelines inside the passes. Free lined pins seemed to be the ticket and there were a few surprise jacks cruising these areas. Mangrove snapper are plentiful around the oyster bars and any structure up against the mangroves and they are willing to take shrimp tipped jig heads. Down size your hooks and leader to increase your chances for some tasty tablefare.
August 4, 2015
All the rain has cooled the water temps in the bay and the bite has been very good. The best action seems to be early in the mourning around the oyster bars and mangroves on higher water. Free lining pinfish, shrimp tipped jig heads, or even cut pins has been working for redfish around the oyster bars and mangroves. Anglers will also pick up snook with this live bait offering. There are plenty of mangrove snapper around the oyster bars and shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. Snook can be found around the floating docks and mangroves near the passes and free lining baits is the ticket. There are some very large females out there so beef up you tackle to have a chance.
July 7, 2015
The passes and nearshore waters continue to be the place for anglers to go looking for action. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads in the deeper water is producing snapper, whiting, and silver trout. The spotted seatrout, ladyfish, pompano, and small sharks are hanging in the 5-7 foot depths and will take jig heads with shrimp or shrimp under popping corks. Anchoring in the 15-20 foot range will produce whiting and silver trout, and is a great place for shark fishing. Put out a good chum slick, cast out some chunk baits on 7/0 circle hooks and wait. Blacktips, spinners, dusky's, and the occasional hammer will start showing. The bite in the backbay has been tough, but there has been some bait starting to show on the beach so that should get the fish going. Free lining these baits on 2/0 circle hooks around the mangroves and floating docks on higher water and strong tides is the ticket.
June 29, 2015
Fishing the passes and nearshore water proved the best for anglers this past week. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads provided hours of action with snapper, whiting, silver trout, ladyfish, and even bonnethead sharks. The snapper and whiting were caught in the deeper water while the shallower water held the trout, lady's, and sharks. Anchoring in 12-18 feet of water proved the ticket for large sharks. Chum the area and throw out chunk baits like ladyfish, then wait. It won't take long for them to show up. Snook fishing around the floating docks and beaches was pretty good when anglers can find quality bait. Free lined whitebaits on 3/0 circle hooks will work best. They are also cruising the beaches near the passes and can be sight fished with artificial's or flies.
June 10, 2015.
This past week the letter was "S", for snapper, snook, and shark. The mangrove snapper bite is oon fire all over the bay and nearshore waters. Mangrove islands, oyster bars, passes and the reefs are teaming with snapper willing to take shrimp tipped jig heads. Anglers remember to downsize your gear to 1/0 circle hooks with split shots in order to better your chances on these bait stealers. The beaches and floating docks are holding snook in large numbers, and they are feeding on free-lined white baits or threadfin herrings on 3/0 circle hooks. There have been some really big females seen among the smaller males so beef up your tackle and take your chances. The sharks are cruising the nearshore waters in 12-20 feet of water. Anchor up get your chum going and throw out some cut ladyfish, frozen threads, or any other bleeding bait and be patient. Once the first few show up it is game on. They are ranging in size from 4-10 feet.
June 4, 2015
Anglers looking for action should focus on the passes and nearshore reefs. Small seatrout, whiting, jacks, small sharks, ladyfish, and silver trout will take shrimp tipped jig heads along the bottom. In the deeper areas of the passes, mangrove snapper are hitting jig heads tipped with small amounts of shrimp. There have been some 12 inchers mixed in, but most are in the 9-10 inch range. If you can find whitebait or threadfin herrings the snook are feeding along the floating docks and mangrove islands near the open water. Free-lining these baits on 3/0 circle hooks during the stronger tides has produced a better bite. The redfish bite has been tough, but persistent angers might pick one up along the mangroves or oyster bars during high tides. Chucking cut baits on the bottom or free lined shrimp seem to work best.
May 28, 2015
The fishing continues to be tough for anglers in and around Esteto Bay this past week. Most seem to be chasing tarpon off north Sanible island all the way to Bica Grande, drifting white baits or free lining crabs under floats. Those looking for tablefare the snapper are everywhere along the mangroves and oyster bars. Downsizing to 1/0 circle hooks with small pieces of shrimp will work fine. The bait along the beach is spotty at best, but if you can find it the snook are crazy along the floating docks and off the beaches near the passes. Free-lining baits in 3/0 circle hooks will work best.
May 14, 2015
The fishing continues to be tough for anglers in and around Estero Bay, possibly due to lack of bait, super clear water, or just lock jaw. There is a quality snapper bite around the mangroves and oyster bars using shrimp tipped jig heads. Free lining small whitebaits around the floating docks will also produce some table sized mangrove snapper. Anglers can also pick up some decent snook action using those small whitebaits around the mangroves and docks on strong tides. The redfish bite is few and far between but there have been some caught around the oyster bars on higher water using shrimp tipped jig heads or pinfish under floats. The best action seems to be sharking in 12-18 feet of water off the beaches. Cut ladyfish seems to work best, but frozen threadfin herrings will also work. It might take a while to get them to show up but once they do you will have plenty of action.
May 5, 2015
With all the wind this past week the water has muddied up and the fishing has been really tough. Anglers can however manage snapper on the oyster bars and mangrove islands on high water using shrimp tipped jig heads. Fishing in the passes have produced silver trout, whiting, sharks, pompano, and even a few spotted seatrout. Dragging shrimp tipped jig heads seems to work best. On a positive note, the freshwater fishing in the retention ponds and neighborhood ponds has been really good for bass. Bouncing black or purple worms is the ticket as well as sinko's.
April 23, 2015
The fishing in and around Estero Bay continues to be tough, but there are some positive things happening. The bait is starting to show up on the nearshore reefs and along the bridges and with it are pods of tarpon. Free lining whitebaits or threadfin herrings will work best or anglers can try using floats while drifting in 12-25 feet of water. There are also plenty of hammerheads, blacktips, spinners, and duskys willing to take these baits as well. The snook are hanging around the floating docks and free lining whitebaits on 3/0 circle hooks will provide plenty of rod bending action. There have been a few overslot fish so beef up your tackle and get ready. Keeper mangrove snapper have also been taking these baits and make very good table fare. There have also been spotted seatrout in the passes ready to take whitebaits or free lined shrimp. The bite on the oyster bars and mangrove islands has been really slow, but your best bet is on high water using shrimp or cut ladyfish.
April 16, 2015
The best bite for anglers is the nearshore waters out to Mays reef. The passes are holding snapper, whiting, and silver trout and are willing to take drifting shrimp tipped jig heads. Moving out to the shallower water proves best for Spanish mackerel, whiting, seatrout, and small sharks. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads will work here too. Ladyfish will take shrimp under popping corks just fine. There have also been reports of sharks and small pods of tarpon off the beaches. Anglers looking for their chance with the silver king should free lined threadfin herrings while drifting. White bait is also starting to show up in the deeper nearshore waters and snook in the backcountry around the docks and mangroves will eat them up. They seem to work best free lined on 3/0 circle hooks. The redfish bite has been tough but some have been caught using shrimp tipped jig heads or under floats around the oyster bars on higher water.
April 2015
The best action for anglers is the pass where Spanish mackerel, whiting, seatrout, jacks, sharks, pompano, and even snapper are taking jig heads tipped with shrimp. Snapper and the seatrout are in the deeper water while the remainder are located in about 6-9 feet. Drifting seems to work best, but anchoring in about 18-20 feet will produce whiting and silver trout. The nearshore reefs are also producing variety but not much size. Bottom bouncing jig heads with shrimp will work best. There have been a few cobia and tripletail hanging around the crab pots so look for them on your way to and from the reef. The backbay bite has been rather slow, but persistent anglers can pick up a redfish or two throwing shrimp on higher tides around the mangroves and oyster bars.
March 30, 2015
If anglers are looking for action then the passes and nearshore reefs are the place to go. The passes are holding whiting, silver trout, spotted seatrout, sharks, ladyfish, and even a few Spanish mackerel. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. The deeper sections of the pass are holding the whiting and silver trout while the shallow areas are producing the Spanish, ladyfish, and sharks. The nearshore reefs have been providing plenty of rod bending action for anglers with Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, sheepshead, small gag grouper, snapper, and some pompano. Bouncing jig heads tipped with shrimp is the ticket for the bottom dwelling species while free lining shrimp will produce the Spanish and ladyfish. The backbay bite has been really tough this past week, but persistent anglers can manage a few redfish around the mangroves and oyster bars on higher water. Shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under floats will work fine.
March 23, 2015
This past week the nearshore fishing really started moving into full swing into springtime patterns. Spanish mackerel are all over and will take just about anything thrown at them including bare hooks. Anchor up near any structure start chumming and they will come. After you get them around the boat the bite will continue as long as you keep feeding them. Anglers will also pick up spotted seatrout, whiting, pompano, jacks, grunts and the occasional gag grouper. Just remember season is closed for the gags so get them back to the water quickly. Moving closer to the passes will produce whiting, silver trout, bonnet head sharks, pompano, and spotted seatrout. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. The sharks are starting to show up as well in 12-20 feet of water. Set-up chum the water and get ready. Blacktips, spinner, and bonnet heads will show up quickly. The backbay bite has been tough with a few reds caught on higher water around the oyster bars and mangroves. Cut ladyfish or shrimp seem to work best. Anglers can either free line them or on jig heads. Snook are starting to make their presence known around the floating docks and mangroves near the passes. Moving water is the key to catching them and free lined white baits or threads will work fine.
March 9, 2015
Spring is in full swing and so too are the fishing patterns. The nearshore waters are full of Spanish mackerel, whiting, silver trout, and ladyfish. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads in 10-20 feet of water is your best bet. There are plenty of sharks out there as well so bring some big tackle and try your hand battling one of those. Move into shallower water near the passes and pompano are on the menu. Bouncing jig heads with shrimp or under popping corks will work best. Anglers will also pick up plenty of ladyfish and the occasional Spanish with this set-up. With the bait on the bridges and off the beaches the snook are feeding nicely around the floating docks and mangrove edges near the passes. Free lining these baits seem to work best. Redfish have been caught around the mangrove and oyster bars on higher water using shrimp tipped jig heads. Angers might want to chum the area pretty well to get the scent out and bring these spot tails to them.
March 2, 2015
With the warming air and water temperatures there was some transition this past week to more of a spring time fishing pattern. Redfish could be found along the mangrove and oyster bars on higher water and were feeding on shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under floats. Sheepshead are coming off their spawn and are thinning out around the mangrove bushes and oyster bars. They will still take shrimp tipped jig heads, but their meat is considerably thinner in size and consistency. Spotted seatrout are starting to show up again on the grass flats near the passes. Shrimp under popping corks will work just fine. Spanish mackerel are making their springtime run outside the passes in 10-20 feet of water. Slow retrieved jig tipped with shrimp will work best. Dragging these jigs across the bottom will also produce whiting, silver trout, and the occasional spotted seatrout.
February 23, 2015
The word for this past week was sheepshead. They could be found on all of their cooler water locations. Anglers fishing srhimp tipped jig heads around mangrove islands, oyster bars, docks, or the nearshore reef waters were catching keepers daily. Seatrout were also making their presence known near the passes in deeper water. Bouncing jig heads with shrimp or under popping corks worked fine. There were few redfish, but persestent anglers managed to get a bite around the oyster bars and mangrove islands on higher water using shrimp tipped jig heads.
February 16, 2015
The fluctuating weather and winds has made the fishing in and around Estero Bay extremely challenging. The winds have created dirty water and the up and down temps have made the fish confused. If anglers can find a bite it will be up and around the mangorve islands and oyster bars using shrimp tipped jig heads. Sheepshead have been the target with the occasional redfish with this set-up. Drift the grass flats near deeper water to find spotted seatrout. Shrimp under a popping cork sems to work best. There will also be plenty of catfish with this method. On the bright side, the fish should go crazy and begin feeding once the temperature warms and the water clears.
February 9, 2015
The ever changing weather conditions have made the fishing challenging for anglers over the past week. The winds continue to be a major problem and finding places to fish are tough. Fishing the wind drivn sides of the mangrove islands when possible seems to be the key locating and catching fish. Higher tides have produced a few redfish using shrimp tipped jig heads. Chumming he area with shrimp pieces heavily has helped getting them grouped and feeding. Anglers will also pick up sheepshead using this method. Anglers might want to downsize their hooks to 1/0 and use split shot for weight. The floating docks and oyster bars have also been producing sheepshead in decent numbers. Fish the deeper channels near grass flats for spotted seatrout using shrimp under popping corks or bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads. If the winds are down, the nearshore refs are stacking up with sheepshead, snapper, and even a few pompano. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads on or near the bottom is the ticket.
February 2, 2015
The unpredictability of the weather has made the fishing tough this past week, but the fish are still out there if anglers are patient. Sheepshead are hanging around their winter spots and will take 1/0 circle hooks tipped with shrimp. Mangrove islands, oyster bars, and dock pilings are holding the fish so anglers should concentrate their efforts here. Seatrout are starting to show up in the deeper cuts near the grass flats. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads along the bottom will work as will shrimp under popping corks. You will alos pick up ladyfish and silver trout with this method. Drifting the passes in 10-15 feet with shrimp tipped jig heads will produce snapper, silver trout, whiting, and even a few ladyfish.
January 26, 2015
With the colder water temps it is time to start working baits slow and low tring to entice a strike. Fishing the deeper water and surrounding flats will produce seatrout by using shrimp tipped jig heads and shrimp under popping corks. Work the edges or transition zones, this is where they will be hanging out. Silver trout and ladyfish will also be caught using this method. Anglers looking for redfish can find them on higher water around the mangroves and oyster bars. Fishing shrimp tipped jig heads or cut ladyfish will work best. Make sure to work an area longer than normal because of the colder water. They are a little sluggish and might take longer for a strike. Sheepshead can be caught along mangrove islands, oyster bars, and dock pilings. Tipping 1/0 circle hooks with just enough shrimp will work best. Too much shrimp will just bring anglers headaches, as these bait stealers pull larger pices right off the hook.
January 19, 2015
Sheepshead are on the menu and anglers looking for some delicious table fars can catch their limit. Fishing mangrove islands, oyster bars, or dock pilings with shrimp tipped jig heads or #1 circle hooks with split shot will do just fine. Just remember o tipe the jigs or hooks with enough shrimp to cover the hook, anymore will just be pulled off by these convicts. Snapper and black drum will also be caught using this method. Spostted seatrout, whiting, and silver trout are starting to show up inside the passes on the grass flats in 5-7 feet of water. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under popping corks will work best. Speaking for the passes, drifting in 10-15 feet of water has been producing whiting, and silver trout while bouncing jig heads with shrimp along the bottom.
January 12, 2015
If anglers are looking for variety then the nearshore reefs are the place to go. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads on or near the bottom will produce sheepshead, snapper, small grouper, pompano, jacks, grunts and even some mackerel. Don't forget to put a free lined shrimp or pinfish out or a possible cobia. They have been cruising around the reefs lately. The passes are producing silver trout, whiting, small sharks, and the occasional spanish. Drifting shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. If anglers are looking for redfish, move to the oyster bars and mangorve islands on higher water and use shrimp on jig heads or under floats. Cut ladyfish will also work, but it might take longer for a bite. Be patient and work the area really well before moving on. Spotted seatrout can be caught in the channles near the grass flats bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads of shrimp under popping corks.
January 5, 2015
The fishing has been up and down lately, but patient anglers are able to bring home some pretty good table fare. Sheepshead can be caught around the mangrove islands, oyster bars, and dock pilings on higher water using shrimp tipped 1/0 circle hooks with split shot for weight. They are also plentiful on the nearshore reefs using the same shrimp tipped circle hooks or jig heads. Anglers will also pick up plenty of keeper snapper with this set-up. The redfish action is hit and miss, but your best shot at a slot fish is along the oyster bars and mangrove islands on higher water using shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under floats. There have been some seatrout along the deeper channles near the grass flats. Shrimp under popping corks will work best in both locating and catching a few of these spots. Drifting the passes with shrimp tipped jig heads in 13-15 feet of water will produce whiting, sand trout, and even a few sharks.
December 22, 2014
The cooler mourning's have provided anglers with some options. The spotted seatrout bite this past week was pretty good with some overslot fish being caught on the flats near the passes. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads or 2/0 circle hooks with split shot will work fine. Don't forget about shrimp under a popping cork, this will help locate and catch fish. There are plenty of sheepshead around the mangroves, oyster bars, and dock pilings. Anglers fishing #1 circle hooks with #3 split shots thrown near any type of structure are having success. Drifting the passes with shrimp tipped jig heads will produce snapper, silver trout, and ladyfish. Fishing the mangroves and oyster bars on higher water later in the day has been producing a few redfish using shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under floats. Patience is the key for anglers as they are slow to feed until the water temps rise. Fish darker bottoms as they will heat up faster.
December 15, 2014
The fishing this past week of December 15th gave anglers the opportunity to work on their cooler water techniques. Working baits slower through deeper water proved the go-to method for locating and catching fish. Sheepshead were the fish of choice right now as they are holding fast in their winter locations. Fishing shrimp tipped #1 circle hooks around dock pilings and oyster bars was the ticket for getting a fefw of these tasty fish. There wre a few redfish taking shrimp tipped jig heads worked along mangrove and oyster bars on high water. Spotted seatrout are also starting to take shrimp under popping corks or shrimp tipped jig heads worked along the bottom near deeper channels.
December 8, 2014
The fishing this past week of December 8th provided anlgers with some good variety and size. The sheepshead are definitly showing their presence in the backbays around dock pilings, oyster bars, and mangrove islands. #1 circle hooks with #3 split shot will provide anglers with their best opportunity to catch these bait stealers. Remeber to just put enough shrimp to cover the hook, too much makes for easy removal. Anchor up current if fishing dock pilings and drift your baits to them. You might need extra weight if the current is ripping to make sure your bait is on or near the bottom. There really isn't much of a hook set especially with circle hooks, but my dvice is to wait for the resistance on the end of the rod before taking any action. Anglers will also pick up snapper with this method. The redfish have been feeding pretty well along the mangroves and oyster bars on higher water. Shrimp tipped jig heads will work best. Seatrout are hanging around the deeper channels near grass and will take shrimp tipped jig heads dragged along the bottom.
