Dave Hanson

Wednesday morning, 4/28, I fished Estero Bay with Paul Martz and Christian LeClerc. We caught a 23-inch Spanish mackerel, released short snapper, and were bemoaning the slow action when, all of a sudden, two lines began bending, and we reeled in two keeper redfish, at 18 1/2 and 19 inches--so we ended up with our limit of reds.

Thursday morning, 4/29, I fished with Ron Musick and friends, Eddie & Carolina Alfonso. We caught seven keeper mangrove snapper and five keeper porgies, and released two gag grouper shorts, fishing with shrimp about 19 miles out of New Pass.

Friday, 5/7, was the next time I got out fishing, and that was bayside with Bill & Terry Major, long-time customers. We fished Estero Bay with live shrimp and caught a keeper 21-inch redfish and an 11-inch keeper mangrove snapper. We released a 22-inch snook and a porcupine puffer-fish.

Slow season has come earlier and more abruptly this year so fishing trips will not be daily occurrances for a while—I'll post them as I get them!

The photo shown is of angler Bill Major, with a 21-inch redfish, caught on shrimp on an inshore trip last week.

Fish Species: snapper, redfish, porgies, snook
Bait Used: live shrimp
Tackle Used: light spinning
Method Used: bottom fishing and tree lines-oyster bars bayside
Water Depth: 1-3 bayside; 30-50 feet gulfside
Water Temperature: 90
Wind Direction: E, SE
Wind Speed: 10-15 knots
21-inch redfish
21-inch redfish


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Dave Hanson

About The Author: Captain Dave Hanson

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 Dave Hanson