redfish, snook, sheepshead: Estero Bay, Bonita Beach, SW FL

[fishbuster]

Wednesday, 10/8, I fished the backwaters of central Estero Bay, along the mangrove shoreline, with Henry & Lois Wilson and friend, Harold Fleming. We used live shrimp to catch and release five redfish to 17 ½ inches, two snook, 22 inches and 24 inches, sheepshead that were just short of keeper-size and lots of undersized mangrove snapper. We also got a couple of keeper mangs.

Monday, 10/13,the guys who fished offshore with me on Saturday (see ofshore forum for details), Chester and Mark Yanik and Jim Basara, had planned another offshore excursion. But, with winds kicked up to 20-25 knots and seas of 4-6 feet offshore, we changed plans and decided to fish central Estero Bay instead. We limited on redfish, with three keepers at 20 inches, 22 inches and 24 inches. We released another smaller red, along with ladyfish, mangrove snapper shorts, a couple of cravalle jacks and seven undersized snook to 23 inches. We also caught five nice sheepshead to 18 inches—everything on live shrimp.