There was a rainy start to the new week in advance of the next cold front, and I had to cancel my fishing plans for Monday, 2/12. Tuesday, the sun reappeared, but with seas still high offshore, I fished Estero Bay, toward Wiggins Pass, with Scott Towmley, his girlfriend Chris, his uncle Mike, and friend Luke Rogers. We caught and released keeper sized mangrove snapper, along with sheepshead, ladyfish, a 20 inch snook and a 17 ½ inch redfish.
I fished central Estero Bay, toward New Pass, on Wednesday with Joe Martorano and his father, Andy. We did well with sheepshead on live shrimp, catching six of those to 15 inches, along with a keeper mangrove snapper. We released a couple of undersized trout and some ladyfish.
Thursday, Jim Kennedy, son Pat, and friend Earl fished Estero Bay with me, above New Pass. We were expecting a couple of light showers early, based upon predictions, but we ended up getting a pretty steady light rain most of the morning. We put on our rain ponchos, and caught an 18 inch bluefish, and some keeper sheepshead to 15 inches. We released a trout just short of legal size, along with some ladyfish.
Jim and Pat Kennedy fished with me again Friday morning, along with friend Ralph. We fished the bay, toward New Pass, trying to stay as sheltered as possible from a brisk northeast wind. We caught a keeper sheepshead at 15 inches, and seven keeper whiting.
Saturday was a day between weather fronts--still not calm from the front that came through, and starting to build seas again in advance of the next one. Offshore didn't look like it would be too pleasant or productive, and with the bay looking mighty dry, I cancelled my Saturday trip.
The photo shown is of angler Dan Gilbert with an 18 ½ inch mangrove snapper, caught on live shrimp a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.
