On a third outing within a week with the Troutmann clan on Tuesday, 11/13/07, the family decided that just the guys would go offshore. Albert Troutmann and sons Patrick and Phillip fished with me in 40 feet south of Sanibel. We used live shrimp to catch a pair of 14 inch keeper hogfish two keeper mangrove snapper, and a 15 inch triggerfish. Baited with a live grunt on heavy tackle (80 pound line) we also landed a 28 inch gag grouper. We released lots of red grouper shorts to 19 inches, gag shorts to 21 inches, blue runners and whitebone porgies.
Thursday, 11/15, things looked calm from shore but with a cold-front approaching, the offshore waters were to become rougher as the day progressed. Anglers Peder Engebretson and Dan Fazendin traded their offshore plans for some catch-and-release fishing in the backwaters instead. We did well with live shrimp in potholes in central Estero Bay, where we released four trout ranging from 16 inches to 18 inches, four redfish to 17 inches, four sheepshead to 15 inches, one sand bream and a couple of mangrove snapper.
Friday the winds blew fiercely most of the day and seas were rough as a cold front moved through, Saturday wasn't quite as windy but I stayed inshore, fishing with Matt Westall and friend, Chad, in Estero Bay from Wiggins Pass to Barefoot Beach. We caught five keeper sheepshead to 15 inches and two keeper mangrove snapper and released smaller snapper and sheepshead, along with a 16 inch redfish, all on live shrimp.
The photo shown is of angler Chester Yanik with a 10 pound bonito caught on a recent offshore trip.
