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
Tortugas Tales and Goliaths on Bonita Beach Reefs (6/06/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] My trip to the Tortugas was a great adventure...marli and sailfish sightings, and mahi galore. Back home, goliaths and mackerels at the Bonita Beach reefs.
[Bonita Beach,FL] My trip to the Tortugas was a great adventure...marli and sailfish sightings, and mahi galore. Back home, goliaths and mackerels at the Bonita Beach reefs.
Good Gulf Variety; Reds & Snook (6/01/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The reefs yielded steady action and good species variety and the backwater was good for snook and redfish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The reefs yielded steady action and good species variety and the backwater was good for snook and redfish.
Reds Inshore; Gag, Snapper, Shark (5/25/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good both inside and outside this week. we caught a good variety of species and a good quantity of fish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good both inside and outside this week. we caught a good variety of species and a good quantity of fish.
It Takes Two to Hold this Cuda; Bull Reds (5/16/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Big redfish are back in the bay now with summer approaching. And offshore, the catches have been varied, with both sport and dining fare.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Big redfish are back in the bay now with summer approaching. And offshore, the catches have been varied, with both sport and dining fare.
Nearshore in 25 Knots; Redfish in the Bay (5/03/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds howled all week with barely bearable seas even close-in. But we caught some snapper and porgies in 45 feet. Inside, the redfish bite was good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds howled all week with barely bearable seas even close-in. But we caught some snapper and porgies in 45 feet. Inside, the redfish bite was good.
A Little Boy and a Big Fish (4/26/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The best catch this week was a 29 inch gag grouper, hooked by a nine-year-old angler in 43 feet.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The best catch this week was a 29 inch gag grouper, hooked by a nine-year-old angler in 43 feet.
Shark Battles, Yellowtail & More (4/19/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Friday was the only day the winds laid down enough to fish offshore. Tuesday and wednesday also brought low tides that weren't too good for inshore prospects. But the fishing was good inside and outside the 3 days I went this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Friday was the only day the winds laid down enough to fish offshore. Tuesday and wednesday also brought low tides that weren't too good for inshore prospects. But the fishing was good inside and outside the 3 days I went this week.
Kings, Porgies, Snapper (4/12/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Kingfish were the big catch this week, along with some other good eating fish on the days that the bite was good.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Kingfish were the big catch this week, along with some other good eating fish on the days that the bite was good.
Kings, Shark, Grouper, Hogfish (4/06/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was great this week for shark, king mackerel and a few grouper, yellowtail and hogfish mixed in.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was great this week for shark, king mackerel and a few grouper, yellowtail and hogfish mixed in.
Sheepshead Predominate, Inside & Out (3/29/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The windy start to the week subsided by week's end and the fishing was good both inshore and offshore this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The windy start to the week subsided by week's end and the fishing was good both inshore and offshore this week.
How's Fishing? The Answer is Blowin' in the Wind...SW FL-Bonita Beac (3/22/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] March winds are killing us around here...two trips out of six actually got to go this week--one nearshore and one inshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] March winds are killing us around here...two trips out of six actually got to go this week--one nearshore and one inshore.
Brave the Seas or Endure the Shallows - SW FL-Bonita Beach (3/15/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Choices this week weren't optimal--the gulf was choppy and the bay was shallow most of the week. But we made the most of it and managed to catcha few grouper, snapper, hogfish and sheepshead.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Choices this week weren't optimal--the gulf was choppy and the bay was shallow most of the week. But we made the most of it and managed to catcha few grouper, snapper, hogfish and sheepshead.
Mostly inshore due to high seas this week. (3/07/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather has been playing havoc with fishing lately, but we managed a few catches of sheepshead, mackerel, trout, reds snapper and grouper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather has been playing havoc with fishing lately, but we managed a few catches of sheepshead, mackerel, trout, reds snapper and grouper.
shark, goliaths, mags & lanes, sheepshead, snook (3/01/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good offshore once seas subsided this week. Inshore provided a few nice sheepshead and whiting and a snook ot two to release.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good offshore once seas subsided this week. Inshore provided a few nice sheepshead and whiting and a snook ot two to release.
Hogs,gags,snapper,sheeps,huge goliaths (2/23/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was great this week with some exciting sport-catches as well as consistent table-fare.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was great this week with some exciting sport-catches as well as consistent table-fare.
grouper & snapper hot offshore (2/16/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Too bad the grouper season is closed in federal waters or we'd have had a few nice ones--But the snapper bite was excellent too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Too bad the grouper season is closed in federal waters or we'd have had a few nice ones--But the snapper bite was excellent too.
Sheepshead gulf & bay, snapper (2/09/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sheepshead fishing was strong both inside and outside this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sheepshead fishing was strong both inside and outside this week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: grouper, snapper, hogs & sheep (2/02/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week for big sheepshead, several hogfish and grouper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week for big sheepshead, several hogfish and grouper.
Hogfish, sheepshead & snapper (1/25/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got out a couple times between weather fronts and had good success with hogfish, sheepshead, snapper and fun with catch & release grouper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got out a couple times between weather fronts and had good success with hogfish, sheepshead, snapper and fun with catch & release grouper.
More grouper, snapper offshore & inshore report (1/19/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather fronts blew out most of this week's fishing but the few trips salvaged yielded good fishing both inside and outside.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Weather fronts blew out most of this week's fishing but the few trips salvaged yielded good fishing both inside and outside.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Grouperfest (1/13/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Grouper were biting nicely this week, even fairly close-in.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Grouper were biting nicely this week, even fairly close-in.
Bonito, Hogfish, Sheepshead...Rough Seas (1/05/2008)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got two out of five trips out this week, thanks to a nasty cold-front that intruded on everyone's fishing plans. We caught a good variety of fish on those two trips.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I got two out of five trips out this week, thanks to a nasty cold-front that intruded on everyone's fishing plans. We caught a good variety of fish on those two trips.
hot king mackerel bite (12/29/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore most of this week, where I found a hot kingfish bite,. Inshore was pretty good for trout, snook, reds, and sheepshead too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore most of this week, where I found a hot kingfish bite,. Inshore was pretty good for trout, snook, reds, and sheepshead too.
27 inch gag best catch this week (12/22/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] We had some rough seas for a few days this week but at the end of the week we caught some nice grouper and snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] We had some rough seas for a few days this week but at the end of the week we caught some nice grouper and snapper.
Hogs, triggers, snapper & almost a king... (12/09/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Hot snapper bite this week, with some good sized mangs--also triggerfish, a hog, some shark, king bites offshore and nice sheepshead in the bay.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Hot snapper bite this week, with some good sized mangs--also triggerfish, a hog, some shark, king bites offshore and nice sheepshead in the bay.
SW FL-Gag & red grouper (12/01/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] A 14 pound red grouper topped the list this week, with a smaller but keeper red and a keeper gag on the same trip.
[Bonita Beach,FL] A 14 pound red grouper topped the list this week, with a smaller but keeper red and a keeper gag on the same trip.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Nice sheepshead, reds, flounder (11/24/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sheepshead to 17 inches were the main catch inshore this week, with some grouper, snapper, goliaths and triggerfish offshore
[Bonita Beach,FL] Sheepshead to 17 inches were the main catch inshore this week, with some grouper, snapper, goliaths and triggerfish offshore
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 28 inch gag; inshore trout, sheepshead, reds (11/17/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished inshore most of this windy week catching some nice trout but, on the one offshore trip, we caught a nice gag grouper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished inshore most of this windy week catching some nice trout but, on the one offshore trip, we caught a nice gag grouper.
Inshore Reds, Near-shore Grouper (11/10/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds were steady most of the week, but the backwater fishing was very good. Near-shore yielded a keeper grouper and some other nice keepers once the seas decreased somewhat.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds were steady most of the week, but the backwater fishing was very good. Near-shore yielded a keeper grouper and some other nice keepers once the seas decreased somewhat.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Too rough offshore; Inshore good for reds, sheepshead, snapp (11/02/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Noel kicked seas and winds up to nearly tropical storm levels all week so i stayed inshore...hard to anchor at times, but paid off with nice redfish and some other decent catches.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Noel kicked seas and winds up to nearly tropical storm levels all week so i stayed inshore...hard to anchor at times, but paid off with nice redfish and some other decent catches.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: big kings, bonito, red grouper, mutton snapper, yellowtail (10/24/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was hot this week, both inshore and offshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was hot this week, both inshore and offshore.
Landed the first keeper-sized red grouper in a while (10/19/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Landed the first keeper-sized red grouper in a while, in 65 feet 28 miles offshore. yellowtail were abundant but not real big.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Landed the first keeper-sized red grouper in a while, in 65 feet 28 miles offshore. yellowtail were abundant but not real big.
Bull shark, goliaths, hogfish, Spanish, lanes & mangs (10/05/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] A bull shark and some goliaths provided some sport this week, while snapper and mackerel provided tasty tablefare.
[Bonita Beach,FL] A bull shark and some goliaths provided some sport this week, while snapper and mackerel provided tasty tablefare.
Snapper smorgasbord, hog, cuda (9/21/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Snapper of all kinds were around in the Gulf this week. A 4 foot barracuda provided some fun action too.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Snapper of all kinds were around in the Gulf this week. A 4 foot barracuda provided some fun action too.
Goliaths, hogfish, snapper & Spanish (9/15/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The water is hot, but the bite was decent this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The water is hot, but the bite was decent this week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Finally a keeper gag grouper! Goliaths, snapper too (9/01/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] It was sure good to catch a gag in only 32 feet this week--first keeper in a while that close in.
[Bonita Beach,FL] It was sure good to catch a gag in only 32 feet this week--first keeper in a while that close in.
24 lb. cobia, goliaths, snapper & Spanish (8/24/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lucked out this week with a nice cobia...funny story on how we caught him.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lucked out this week with a nice cobia...funny story on how we caught him.
Inshore & near-shore report (8/18/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] we caught the 8th hogfish of the week on Saturday, which is pretty unusual. Snapper and goliaths were plentiful; reds were elusive.
[Bonita Beach,FL] we caught the 8th hogfish of the week on Saturday, which is pretty unusual. Snapper and goliaths were plentiful; reds were elusive.
Nice snapper, 7 hogfish, goliath fights (8/11/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The bite was hot for all snapper varieties this week--mangroves, lanes, yellowtail and hog. We also battled a couple of goliaths and caught some Spanish mackerel.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The bite was hot for all snapper varieties this week--mangroves, lanes, yellowtail and hog. We also battled a couple of goliaths and caught some Spanish mackerel.
Nice reds! Bonita Beach, SW FL (8/03/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Inshore fishing beat near-shore this week, and was very good for redfish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Inshore fishing beat near-shore this week, and was very good for redfish.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Snapper, Spanish, Trout, Flounder, Goliaths (7/28/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Near-shore fishing was good this week, with a hot bite for snapper and Spanish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Near-shore fishing was good this week, with a hot bite for snapper and Spanish.
Goalies vs Goliaths, snapper & storms (7/21/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Even 4 big hockey players wore themselves out fighting goliath grouper on Tuesday.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Even 4 big hockey players wore themselves out fighting goliath grouper on Tuesday.
Inshore & near-shore report (7/12/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Bay fishing was good for reds, snapper and sheepshead this week. The reef fishing was a little slow, but with water temps over 90 degrees...
[Bonita Beach,FL] Bay fishing was good for reds, snapper and sheepshead this week. The reef fishing was a little slow, but with water temps over 90 degrees...
Flounder, sheepshead, snapper & Spanish (7/06/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was better than inshore this week, and a few young anglers had a ball with Spanish and flounder at the reefs.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was better than inshore this week, and a few young anglers had a ball with Spanish and flounder at the reefs.
Reds,blues(4th of July?) hogs mangs, macks, drum, flounder (6/30/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good species variety inshore and offshore this week, and we lucked into some hogfish offshore.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good species variety inshore and offshore this week, and we lucked into some hogfish offshore.
Spanish, snapper, shark...water spouts! (6/22/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing offshore was good for Spanish mackerel and mangrove & lane snapper this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing offshore was good for Spanish mackerel and mangrove & lane snapper this week.
SW FL-Bonita Beach Inshore Report (6/01/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Reds, snapper and sheepshead were the catches inshore during this too-windy-to-go-offshore week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Reds, snapper and sheepshead were the catches inshore during this too-windy-to-go-offshore week.
Bay reds, sheepshead; Reef Spanish, snapper-too much wind (5/26/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds howled and seas built most of the week. I fished near shore once, inshore twice, and cancelled three trips. But the reds were nice in the bay, and Spanish abundant at the reefs.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds howled and seas built most of the week. I fished near shore once, inshore twice, and cancelled three trips. But the reds were nice in the bay, and Spanish abundant at the reefs.
Redfish, kings, snapper, bonito, AJs, mahi-sighting: Bonita beach, SW FL (5/19/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week both offshore and inshore, with lots of variety for eating and sport fishing.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week both offshore and inshore, with lots of variety for eating and sport fishing.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: rough seas, goliaths galore, 7' bull shark (5/12/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas were rough the beginning of the week, and i rescheduled everything for the latter half--got into some goliaths, shark and snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Seas were rough the beginning of the week, and i rescheduled everything for the latter half--got into some goliaths, shark and snapper.