Fishing Reports by Captain Dave Hanson
About The Author: Captain
Company: Fish Buster Charters
Area Reporting: Bonita Beach
Bio: Captain Dave Hanson is a native of southwest Florida. He has been fishing local waters since childhood, and has been fishing professionally for over fifteen years. He is Coast Guard licensed, and is a member in good standing of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce. He has been featured in several national fishing magazines, and he also appears weekly in the fishing reports sections of the Bonita, Ft. Myers, Ft. Myers Beach, and Naples, FL newspapers.
239-947-1688
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Grouper to 32 inches reluctantly released! (1/16/2012)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing has been great for grouper and snapper. Inshore has been productive for redfish and large sheepshead.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing has been great for grouper and snapper. Inshore has been productive for redfish and large sheepshead.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Great Fishing Inshore & Near-shore (1/02/2012)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been awesome for sheepshead, drum, redfish and trout, the latter catch-and-release only up until season reopening January 1st.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been awesome for sheepshead, drum, redfish and trout, the latter catch-and-release only up until season reopening January 1st.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Big Sheepshead are Back! Grouper, Snapper, Hogfish (12/19/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Inshore fishing has been very good for redfish and sheepshead. Offshore, lots of grouper, snapper, porgies, and other bottom species have been biting well.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Inshore fishing has been very good for redfish and sheepshead. Offshore, lots of grouper, snapper, porgies, and other bottom species have been biting well.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Red Grouper Offshore; Redfish Inshore (11/28/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Red grouper have been the hot catch offshore, with redfish continuing to be abundant inshore
[Bonita Beach,FL] Red grouper have been the hot catch offshore, with redfish continuing to be abundant inshore
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Redfish everywhere! (11/14/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Redfish and sheepshead keepers have been abundant in the backwaters.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Redfish and sheepshead keepers have been abundant in the backwaters.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Good action inside and offshore (10/17/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lots of variety--big-game and food-fish, both inshore and offshore this past week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lots of variety--big-game and food-fish, both inshore and offshore this past week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Shark, Goliaths, Bonito, Snapper & Reds (9/26/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Big-game and food-fish offerings have been good, both inshore and offshore
[Bonita Beach,FL] Big-game and food-fish offerings have been good, both inshore and offshore
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Good Variety (8/22/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sport fishing for goliath grouper and shark has been fun, along with a good variety of keeper food-fish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sport fishing for goliath grouper and shark has been fun, along with a good variety of keeper food-fish.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Offshore Report (8/01/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Goliath grouper action has made for a few exciting trips offshore. The variety of food-fish has also been good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Goliath grouper action has made for a few exciting trips offshore. The variety of food-fish has also been good.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Goliath Mania, Red Grouper, Kingfish, even a Mahi (7/04/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas have been calm and the fishing has been great offshore. Big-game anglers have been pleased with goliath-grouper fights and some big sharks. Food-fisherman have done well with red grouper and snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas have been calm and the fishing has been great offshore. Big-game anglers have been pleased with goliath-grouper fights and some big sharks. Food-fisherman have done well with red grouper and snapper.
SW FL-Bonita Beach Grouper, Mackerel, Shark, Permit and Pompano (6/20/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good, with calm seas offshore. We've had fun with sport-fishing for goliaths and shark, and we have had plenty of good-eating fish too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good, with calm seas offshore. We've had fun with sport-fishing for goliaths and shark, and we have had plenty of good-eating fish too.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 30 lb. Permit, Cobia, & Goliaths to 425 lbs! (5/30/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been excellent gulfside and bayside. Today, winds and seas are picking up, so the backwaters with the nice high tides of summer might be the best bet this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been excellent gulfside and bayside. Today, winds and seas are picking up, so the backwaters with the nice high tides of summer might be the best bet this week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 150 lb shark, keeper grouper, lanes, flounder (5/16/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good offshore until a weather front moved through this weekend with thunderstorms and high winds and seas, persisting into the beginning of this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good offshore until a weather front moved through this weekend with thunderstorms and high winds and seas, persisting into the beginning of this week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 8 pound Red Grouper & More (5/02/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been very productive for snapper, with some nice grouper thrown into the mix, along with other bottom varieties offshore. Inshore, trout, reds and snook are biting better, now that our higher summer tides are beginning and the water has warmed.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been very productive for snapper, with some nice grouper thrown into the mix, along with other bottom varieties offshore. Inshore, trout, reds and snook are biting better, now that our higher summer tides are beginning and the water has warmed.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish & More (4/18/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Coditions have been near-perfect the past couple of weeks. The variety and action has been excellent offshore, and inshore has been good for redfish and trout.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Coditions have been near-perfect the past couple of weeks. The variety and action has been excellent offshore, and inshore has been good for redfish and trout.
SWFL Bonita Beach Nice Trout Reds Inshore and Good Tablefare Offshore (4/04/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Action has been good both inshore and offshore over the past couple of weeks, and weather and conditions have been mostly cooperative.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Action has been good both inshore and offshore over the past couple of weeks, and weather and conditions have been mostly cooperative.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Inshore & Near-shore Report (3/21/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather and conditions have been ideal most of these past couple of weeks, and the bite and variety have been good inshore and offshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather and conditions have been ideal most of these past couple of weeks, and the bite and variety have been good inshore and offshore.
SW FL Bonita Beach: Good Action-Lots of Hogfish! (3/07/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather and fishing have been good, mostly, over the past couple of weeks. Higher tides are making inshore fishing more productive,as we head toward summertime. Offshore, when calm enough, has been productive for multiple species.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather and fishing have been good, mostly, over the past couple of weeks. Higher tides are making inshore fishing more productive,as we head toward summertime. Offshore, when calm enough, has been productive for multiple species.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Finally Fishing Weather on the Horizon! (2/21/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lane, mangrove and hog snapper have all been abundant catches offshore. The seas and winds have laid down at last...at least for now.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lane, mangrove and hog snapper have all been abundant catches offshore. The seas and winds have laid down at last...at least for now.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snapper fill grouper void; Trout inshore (2/07/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds and seas, winds and seas...becoming an old story this winter...but fishing is still good when conditions allow.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds and seas, winds and seas...becoming an old story this winter...but fishing is still good when conditions allow.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snapper & Sheepshead Offshore; Reds & Trout Inshore (1/24/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather continues to be tricky, but fishing is good when weather allows. Sallow backwaters and rough offshore conditions sometimes happen at the same time, which is no fun. But the snapper bite is hot offshore, as is the trout bite inshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather continues to be tricky, but fishing is good when weather allows. Sallow backwaters and rough offshore conditions sometimes happen at the same time, which is no fun. But the snapper bite is hot offshore, as is the trout bite inshore.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snappermania! (1/10/2011)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The snapper bite has been great, with mangs, lanes and hog snapper all biting. Grouper are also around but must be released due to closed season. Big sheepshead have also been fun for anglers.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The snapper bite has been great, with mangs, lanes and hog snapper all biting. Grouper are also around but must be released due to closed season. Big sheepshead have also been fun for anglers.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Big, Winter Sheepshead are Here (when weather lets us fish) (12/28/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] We have been fighting the weather, but fishing has been good, despite the cold water temperature, when winds and seas have let us get out fishing.
[Bonita Beach,FL] We have been fighting the weather, but fishing has been good, despite the cold water temperature, when winds and seas have let us get out fishing.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Mixed Bag Offshore (12/13/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good when weather permits, but we have been hit with serial cold-fronts, bringing high winds and seas.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good when weather permits, but we have been hit with serial cold-fronts, bringing high winds and seas.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Big Grouper, Snapper, Sheepshead, Goliaths & Shark (11/30/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great offshore, especially for grouper. Inshore was good for catch-and-release snook and reds.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great offshore, especially for grouper. Inshore was good for catch-and-release snook and reds.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Grouper-fest! (11/16/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The grouper bite was hot yesterday.! Fishing for grouper and snapper and hogfish has been good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The grouper bite was hot yesterday.! Fishing for grouper and snapper and hogfish has been good.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 11-Pound Red Grouper; 20-Pound 'Cuda (11/02/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good offshore for snapper, grouper, and more.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good offshore for snapper, grouper, and more.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 18-pound cobia and good action this week (10/19/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] A 41-inch, 18-pound cobia and a 24 1/2 inch redfish were the best offshore and inshore catches. Conditions have been good and the bite has been strong.
[Bonita Beach,FL] A 41-inch, 18-pound cobia and a 24 1/2 inch redfish were the best offshore and inshore catches. Conditions have been good and the bite has been strong.
SW FL-Boniyta Beach (10/05/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good inshore and offshore. The air and water temperatures have dropped a bit now, but the trade-off is some higher winds and seas.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been good inshore and offshore. The air and water temperatures have dropped a bit now, but the trade-off is some higher winds and seas.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Nice Gags in 43 feet; Trout Bayside (9/07/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] We caught some nice grouper, fairly close-in on Sunday, along with a hogfish and other good table-fare. The trout bite was good in the backwaters.
[Bonita Beach,FL] We caught some nice grouper, fairly close-in on Sunday, along with a hogfish and other good table-fare. The trout bite was good in the backwaters.
SW FL-Bonita beach: Red Grouper, Snapper & Trout (8/17/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] It is slow season in SW FL right now, until our winter residents return in October. The customers who have fished with us over the past couple of weeks have enjoyed productive trips, with summer fishing yielding good catches inshore and offshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] It is slow season in SW FL right now, until our winter residents return in October. The customers who have fished with us over the past couple of weeks have enjoyed productive trips, with summer fishing yielding good catches inshore and offshore.
Trout-bite is hot: SW FL-Bonita Beach (7/27/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Summer high tides have brough productive fishing to Estero bay. Trout have been biting well, along with redfish, some snapper and some sheepshead.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Summer high tides have brough productive fishing to Estero bay. Trout have been biting well, along with redfish, some snapper and some sheepshead.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Yellowtail, Grouper, Hogfish, Kings (7/13/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great recently, in calm seas offshore. The yellowtail bite is strong, and occasional keeper gag and red grouper are biting. Hogfish and mackerel have been plentiful.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great recently, in calm seas offshore. The yellowtail bite is strong, and occasional keeper gag and red grouper are biting. Hogfish and mackerel have been plentiful.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Mostly Offshore (6/30/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing has been good for grouper, snapper, king mackerel, porgies and more. Inshore, the bite has been good for trout, reds, snapper and a few snook.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing has been good for grouper, snapper, king mackerel, porgies and more. Inshore, the bite has been good for trout, reds, snapper and a few snook.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Summer Fishing Heating Up-Kings Here! (6/15/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Folks were skittish about where oil might turn up in May, but it looks like word is getting out that our shores here in SW FL are clean--we hope it stays that way. Offshore, the kings have been biting, and summer tides has brought good fishing to the backwaters too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Folks were skittish about where oil might turn up in May, but it looks like word is getting out that our shores here in SW FL are clean--we hope it stays that way. Offshore, the kings have been biting, and summer tides has brought good fishing to the backwaters too.
SW FL-Bonita beach: Inshore & Near-shore recent trips report (5/11/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Busy season here has ended, but the few trips I got to recently were productive.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Busy season here has ended, but the few trips I got to recently were productive.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Mostly Bay wih a bit of Gulf mixed in (4/26/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got offshore a few times, where the action was good for snapper, grpouper, and even a surprise cobia bite. Inshore, trout and sheepshead action was good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got offshore a few times, where the action was good for snapper, grpouper, and even a surprise cobia bite. Inshore, trout and sheepshead action was good.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Good Action Inshore & Offshore (4/13/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished mostly inshore, but had a few good days offshore mixed in. Action was steady inside and outside.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished mostly inshore, but had a few good days offshore mixed in. Action was steady inside and outside.
SW FL-Bonita beach: Good catches inshore & to 20 miles offshore (3/30/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I had only a few days over the past couple weeks that were calm enough to head offshore. But fishing inside and outside has been pretty good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I had only a few days over the past couple weeks that were calm enough to head offshore. But fishing inside and outside has been pretty good.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 28-inch gag greleased,; snapper, sheeps, hogs & trout (3/16/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The grouper bite has been pretty strong on our offshore days, but season doesn't re-open until April 1st, so we have had to release them all. Snapper, including hogfish, have been plentiful, along with sheepshead and trout.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The grouper bite has been pretty strong on our offshore days, but season doesn't re-open until April 1st, so we have had to release them all. Snapper, including hogfish, have been plentiful, along with sheepshead and trout.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snapper, Sheeps, Hogs, Grouper & Trout Biting (3/02/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great when the weather has allowed us to go out.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great when the weather has allowed us to go out.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 9lb Mang! Nice Grouper, Hogs, Trout & Sheepies (2/16/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas have been rough for a couple of weeks except for this past Monday---wow, we took advantage of that calm day! And inshore fishing has been good too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas have been rough for a couple of weeks except for this past Monday---wow, we took advantage of that calm day! And inshore fishing has been good too.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Grouper, Snapper, Hogfish-Nice ones! (2/02/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The catches have been very good, that is, when weather hs allowed us to fish...this is shaping up to be a tough winter for fishing. Recent cold-water fish kills have prompted tighter restrictions on species such as snook and tarpon.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The catches have been very good, that is, when weather hs allowed us to fish...this is shaping up to be a tough winter for fishing. Recent cold-water fish kills have prompted tighter restrictions on species such as snook and tarpon.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: brrrrrrrr but a few good catches (1/18/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Record low temperatures surely put a hurt on the fishing recently...but we managed a few good catches, both inshore and offshore. Things are warming up and looking up now.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Record low temperatures surely put a hurt on the fishing recently...but we managed a few good catches, both inshore and offshore. Things are warming up and looking up now.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Inshore & Reefs close out 2009 (1/02/2010)
[Bonita Beach,FL] It is cold here and will remain so for the next week (by Florida's standards anyway!) The winds and seas have been high, so we stuck close to shore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] It is cold here and will remain so for the next week (by Florida's standards anyway!) The winds and seas have been high, so we stuck close to shore.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Nice Grouper & Snapper, Redfish (12/14/2009)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great offshore, when weather allows. Inshore has also been good, on favorable tides.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing has been great offshore, when weather allows. Inshore has also been good, on favorable tides.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Keeper Grouper & Kings Best Recent Catches (11/25/2009)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Both inshore and offshore fishing has been productive, but offshore was especially good for grouper and kings recently.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Both inshore and offshore fishing has been productive, but offshore was especially good for grouper and kings recently.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Almost a Too Big Snook, Bull Red (11/10/2009)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Bay fishing was very good this week--good thing, because Tropical Storm Ida made it too rough to fish outside.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Bay fishing was very good this week--good thing, because Tropical Storm Ida made it too rough to fish outside.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Nice Kings, Bonito, Shark, Snapper & Trout (10/21/2009)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was great until the seas and winds picked up with a cold front. After that, inshore was the place to be.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was great until the seas and winds picked up with a cold front. After that, inshore was the place to be.
SWFL-Bonita beach: Snapperfest and a Big 'Cuda (10/04/2009)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Snapper fishing was good for all varieties, and a big barracuda was fun to fight.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Snapper fishing was good for all varieties, and a big barracuda was fun to fight.