After the rain, winds and chill of Monday, Tuesday morning offered my first opportunity to go fishing. I fished the oyster bars of Estero Bay with Bill Gardner and his sons Jamie and Brian. The tide was low, and it was still windy and cool early in the morning, with a slow bite early. The bite picked up toward mid-morning, when we caught three keeper sheepshead to 15 ½ inches, and a 16 ½ inch trout. We released some smaller sheepshead and three ladyfish.

I fished Estero Bay Thursday with Leeds Hutchinson, son Bill, and friend Gary Jorgenson. We did well fishing a wash channel (water running off a flat) close to Wiggins Pass, with live shrimp. We caught three trout 16 to 17 inches, four keeper sheepshead to 15 inches, and two keeper pompano.

Fishing with Earl Meturfman and friends, Phil and Tom Saturday in Estero Bay, we caught a 16 inch trout and released sheepshead and ladyfish to 24 inches.

The photo shown is of angler Bob Hull with a 20 inch redfish, caught on live shrimp a recent backwater Fishbuster Charter in Estero Bay.