| Fishing Guide / Author |
Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 53
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 9:32 am: | |
Tuesday, I fished with Bob & Matt Pumford in 51 feet, 20 miles west of New Pass. We caught ten large mangrove snapper to 21 inches, triggerfish, porgies, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We released gag grouper shorts to 21 ½ inches, just ½ inch short of legal size.
Larry Vigliotti and friends Chuck, Lenny & Grubby fished with me Wednesday, about 20 miles off Naples. We caught 16 nice mangrove snapper, a keeper red grouper, a 26 inch Spanish mackerel, and large triggerfish.
Thursday, I fished with the Denny Sollman party, again 20 miles off Naples. We were looking forward to seas forecast at one to three feet, but we faced a steady three foot sea for the duration of our trip. We caught mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and Spanish mackerel to 25 inches. We released gag and red grouper just ½ inch short of legal size.
Gregg Bedell fished with me Friday, 19 miles west of New Pass. We caught mangrove snapper to 14 inches, a 13 inch porkfish, which is large for that species, porgies, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. The mackerel had just begun moving in when a 9 foot hammerhead shark began circling us, which put a damper on catching any more mackerel. We also released about thirty gag grouper to 20 inches.
Saturday, Dick Wilson and I fished on a 258 heading, 22 miles off New Pass. We caught a couple dozen mangrove snapper to 16 inches, and released all but four of those. We also caught a 24 inch gag grouper and a 35 inch king mackerel.
The Al Gallo party fished with me 12 miles off Naples Sunday, and we caught keeper mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and released gag grouper shorts to 21 inches.
The photo shown is of angler gregg Wessels with a 24 inch gag grouper, caught last week on a Fishbuster charter off Naples.
Also, check our Bonita Beach report for Monday this week.
For full info and fish photo-album, please visit www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 51
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
Wild weather greeted us this week, and I was unable to get any fishing trips offshore until Friday.
Friday, seas were calmed to 2-3 feet, but conditions were muddy, and sloppy, confused seas remained, after the beating the Gulf took all week. I fished in 35 feet off Naples with Frank Vayda and friends, Brian and Dan. We caught keeper mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel. We released an 8 pound jack cravalle and a 4 foot sharpnose shark.
The Gregg Wessels party fished with me Saturday, 20 miles off Naples, where seas were 4-5 feet. Braving those conditions paid off in terms of fourteen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, caught on live shrimp, and a 24 inch gag grouper, which we caught on a blue runner, one of hundreds of blue runners out there.
The attached photo is of anglers with the Peter Haluenen party, who caught a mess of mangrove snapper to 18 inches, this 4 lb. triggerfish, and this large whitebone porgie, on a recent Fishbuster Charter off Naples Beach.
For full info and fish photo-album, please visit www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 49
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 1:00 pm: | |
Monday, I fished off Bonita Beach, so check that report also...
Tuesday, I fished with the Ross Christenson family, in 33 feet off Naples, with live shrimp. We caught mangrove snapper to 14 inches and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We released lots of blue runners, but still spotted no kingfish.
Wednesday, I fished off Naples with the Brad Hayes party, including four children, who had fun catching and releasing lots small fish, including yellowtail snapper, grunts, and sheepshead. They also caught two keeper-sized sheepshead.
Thursday, I fished in 23 feet off Naples with the Peter Haluenen party. Since the fish have been finicky recently, and not aggressively feeding, we bottom-fished with the lightest tackle possible, 12 lb. test, with a 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a split shot. We caught nice mangrove snapper to 18 inches, whitebone porgies to 17 inches, and a four pound triggerfish. We released gag and red grouper shorts to 20 inches.
Friday, I fished in 50 feet off Naples with the Hal Haines, Steve Collons, Jim Young, Jay Powinall, Robert Stanfield, and Bob Sweet, using live shrimp. We caught nice-sized mangrove snapper to 16 inches, a 20 inch hogfish, and three king mackerel, each about 30 inches. We caught and released a 4 foot kingfish, which we did not want to kill. Finally, the kings are around, as I suspected they would be with the blue runners have been so abundant recently.
Fishing again Saturday in 50 feet off Naples, this time with Chuck Gornick and son, Chris, we used live shrimp and blue runners for bait. We caught thirteen nice mangrove snapper to 18 inches, large whitebone porgies, A 30 inch Spanish mackerel, and a 32 inch king mackerel. We released several additional kings, and also saw a big one eat a blue runner right beside the boat.
The photo shown is of the 20 inch hogfish caught on a shrimp this Friday by angler Steve Collons, on a Fishbuster Charter in 50 feet.
For full info and fish photo-album, please visit www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 46
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 20, 2004 - 10:43 am: | |
I fished Estero Bay Friday, for the first time in a long time. Fishing with Frank & Nancy Bordner, son David, and Nancy’s dad, we caught sheepshead, two of which were keepers. We were fishing along the channel toward Wiggins Pass—Fishing has been a bit slow the past few days, both gulfside and bayside.
I tried central Estero Bay again on Saturday, with the Art Arteberry party. Winds were gusty and easterly, which made for a lower tide, and fishing was again slow. We caught sheepshead, and released small Spanish mackerel and jack cravalle. The photo below is of young angler, Reagan, with an 18 inch sheepshead, caught on a recent Fishbuster Charter. Check our Bonita Beach report too. For full info and fish photo-album, please visit www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 44
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 9:40 am: | |
I am still fishing mostly off Bonita Beach, but this week i did fish at the 240 ledge off Naples, with the Bob Pumford party on Saturday. We caught nine mangrove snapper to 18 inches, and released short gags and small sheepshead. We were fishing in 4 foot seas, so conditions were not ideal. Chaeck our report for the Bonita beach area also. The attached photo is of angler Brad Hayes, with a 23 inch gag grouper. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com  |
Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 41
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:25 am: | |
Weather hasn't let us out much, but what we were able to do was off Bonita Beach, so check our report for there! |
Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 38
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 9:58 am: | |
Tuesday brought calm seas, but also a slow bite 20 miles off the 240 ledge, where I fished with Bob & Martha Graham and Tom & Linda Graham. We caught ten keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper hogfish, and porkfish, and released short gags to 17 inches, all on live shrimp.
I got a Saturday morning trip in with the Frank Bettendorf party, although we came in a bit early, due to rapidly increasing winds and seas, as the weekend’s weather front approached. We fished in 30 feet off Naples with live shrimp, and boated a keeper gag grouper, a scamp grouper, and half a dozen mangrove snapper. We released porkfish, and Spanish mackerel.
Sunday’s 6-8 foot seas kept us in port. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 36
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 12:30 pm: | |
Wednesday, I fished with the Dick Leonard party at the 240 ledge, where the bite was a bit slow. But, we managed to catch a dozen mangrove snapper to 14 inches, a 15 inch hogfish, triggerfish and porkfish, using live shrimp. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts. I fished the remainder of the decent weather days this week off Bonita Beach, so check our report for there too. The photo below is of a 29 inch gag we got last Friday about 19 miles off Bonita Beach.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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CAPT ROBERT WALCZAK (Captrob)
New member
Username: Captrob
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:02 am: | |
A COLD FRONT IS HERE AGAIN. WATER TEMPS HAVE WENT DOWN INTO THE UPPER 50'S. THE FISH ARE FEELING THE AFFECTS OF THE DROP. TROUT HAVE BEEN FAIR WITH FISH TO 20 INCHS. THE BITE HAS BEEN LITE AND FISH ARE HOLDING IN DEEPER HOLES. REDFISH ARE ALSO FAIR AROUND OYSTER POINTS. MOSTLY SMALLER REDS THIS WEEK. JIGS ARE THE BEST. SNOOK ARE SLOW BUT BEST IN THE UPPER CREEKS AND IN FRESH WATER AREAS. YOU CAN EXPECT UP TO A COUPLE DOZEN SNOOK MIXED WITH REDS, BASS, TARPON, OSCARS AND OTHER FISH IN THE FRESH WATER. GREAT FLY ACTION IN THE WINTER. TARPON ARE SLOW. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY TARPON IN A FEW WEEKS. THEY WILL START IN AS EARLY AS FEB IF THE WATER WARMS. GROUPER ARE GOOD IN THE BACK HOLES IF YOU CAN FIND LIVE BAIT TO PULL THEM OUT. A WARMING TREND WILL START IN THE END OF THE WEEK AND SHOULD GET THE FISH MORE ACTIVE AGAIN. FISHING WILL REALLY TAKE OFF IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. THE SPRING IS ALWAYS EXCITING WITH NEVER KNOWING IF IT WILL BE A EARLY SPRING OR LATE SPRING.
GOOD FISHING...
CAPT ROBERT WALCZAK
WWW.TARPONTAILS.COM
1-239-514-7377
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 33
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 10:38 am: | |
After beginning the week in port, due to rough conditions, I fished offshore Wednesday at the north 240 ledge area, with Mike Jones, Charles Rieger, and Stan Braun. Stan, who was fishing with live shrimp on 12 # test, caught a permit that pegged the boga grip at over 30 pounds, and was 42 inches long (see photo attached). Catching a permit in January was a surprise to all on board: These fish are usually around in spring and summer—not in 56 degree water temperature! Mike also bagged a 23 inch gag grouper, and the group caught fourteen mangrove snapper to 15 inches. We released lots of gag and red grouper, porkfish, and a 15 inch scamp. I fished off Bonita Beach a few times this week too, so check our report for there.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 12:24 pm: | |
I fished Wednesday with Andy Ungar and Al Layton, at the 240 ledge, using live shrimp. We caught a 24 inch gag grouper and a 23 ½ inch red grouper. We released lots of grouper shorts, along with some big whitebone porgies. We also boxed three limits of mangrove snapper to 15 inches and a 19 inch hogfish.
Thursday, I fished the ledge again, with the Kevin Walsh party. We caught over fifty mangrove snapper, and released all but fifteen keepers. We also bagged a 24 inch gag grouper. We released lots of grouper shorts, and also released a 15 inch hogfish, because it was a female. Most of the female hogfish this time of year are egg-laden, and releasing these will help assure that the hogfish population is not depleted.
The Pat Fitzgerald party fished the ledge area with me Friday, using live shrimp. We caught about thirty mangrove snapper, releasing all but a dozen keepers to 15 inches. We also caught two 15 inch hogfish, triggerfish, porgies and grunts, and released loads of grouper shorts, including a yellowmouth. The attached photo is of angler Al Layton, with a 24 inch gag and a 23 1/2 inch red grouper, caught Wednesday on a Fishbuster Charter. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 1:03 pm: | |
I fished off Bonita Beach earlier this week, so check our report for that location.
Rough seas were upon us again Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday was calm, and I fished with the Leonard White party at the 240 ledge, using live shrimp. We caught fifteen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, keeper triggerfish, whitebone porgies, sheepshead, and a 16 inch hogfish. we released gag grouper shorts, as well as two yellow-mouth grouper that were just a half inch short of keeper size, at 15 ½ inches. The next windy cold front arrived for Saturday and Sunday, so we remained in port. The attached photo is of a rarely seen fish called a "guitar fish"--Worth posting, just for its unusual looks. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 29
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 11:58 am: | |
Wednesday, Gregg Bedell and I fished around the 240 ledge area. We bagged ten of thirty keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, and a keeper red grouper. We released porgies and about fifty gag grouper shorts to 21 inches.
Friday, the Jane Anderson party fished with me at the 240 Ledge, where we caught keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, keeper triggerfish and whitebone porgies, and again released gag grouper shorts.
Dave Carr, who fished with me Monday off Bonita Beach, fished again Saturday, this time bringing his sons, Chris & Steven, along to fish off Naples. We fished the 240 ledge again, and bagged fifteen mangrove snapper, along with porgies, and released grouper shorts again. Two to three weeks ago, we were catching keeper-sized gags consistently, but the past week to two, most have been throw-backs, just short of legal size. I fished off Bonita beach several times this week also, so check our report for that area too. The photo attached is of father/daughter angling team, Joe & Lauren Walsh, with a 24 inch gag grouper and a 14 inch hogfish, caught on a Christmas Eve Fishbuster Charter. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 27
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 10:26 am: | |
After a week in port, due to winds and seas, I finally again Monday, around the 240 ledge area, off Naples, with the Ted Robinson party. Using live shrimp, we caught fifteen keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, and released a lot of smaller ones. We also caught and released gag grouper ranging 14 to 21 inches.
Joe Walsh and daughter, Lauren, fished with me Wednesday at the 240 ledge, where we caught fifteen keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, keeper triggerfish, a 14 inch hogfish, and a 25 inch gag grouper. We released most of the snapper and triggerfish. We used shrimp for bait, except for the grouper, which we caught on a sand perch.
Friday, the Lee Wampler party fished with me at the new 3-mile reef off Wiggins. We used live shrinp to catch twenty-three keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, and released small sheepshead, porkfish, and gag grouper to 21 inches.
Brian Wood and sons Austin & Shawn fished with me Saturday at the 240 ledge, where we bagged ten of twenty keeper mangrove snapper, one of three keeper sheepshead, all about 3 pounds, and released numerous porgies and gag grouper in the 20-21 inch size range.
Sunday, David & Shirley Dobbs and son, Keaton, fished at a ledge off the Registry Resort with me, where we used live shrimp to catch three limits of keeper mangrove snapper, keeper triggerfish and porkfish. We released gag grouper to 19 inches, and also a red grouper that was just ¼ inch short of keeper size. Check the report for our Bonita Beach fishing this week too. The photo below is of a 24 inch gag grouper and mangrove snapper to 19 1/2 inches, caught by anglers dave & paul Bloomfield, on a recent Fishbuster Charter. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 26
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 21, 2003 - 9:28 am: | |
I fished the bay Monday, in holes and on oyster bars along the edges of the channel by Wiggins Pass, with the Robert Web party. Using live shrimp, fishing on a rapidly falling tide, we caught a keeper redfish, a throw-back redfish, and 19 sheepshead, four of which were keepers (see attached photo). The rest of this week was a toal loss, due to weather--25 knot winds, 6 foot seas, low tides, and cold temps scared most of us off the water.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 24
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 1:36 pm: | |
Monday, I fished the bay, by the channel toward Wiggins Pass, with brothers Mike and Charlie Kell. We caught and released a small snook and a small redfish, and boated a keeper redfish and keeper sheepshead, all on live shrimp.
Thursday, I fished Wiggins Bay and the channel toward Wiggins Pass with Leon Dargis and son, Brett. We caught a small barracuda, which is a bit unusual in that area. We also caught four keeper sheepshead, and released lots of smaller sheepshead around Hell’s Gate, all on shrimp.
Friday, we had a chilly start, but it was a great day fishing with David Bloomfield and sons, Paul and Dave. We fished south of the 240 ledge with shrimp, and caught about fifty big mangrove snapper to 19 ½ inches, releasing all but our three limits. We also caught a 24 inch gag grouper, Spanish mackerel, and triggerfish. We released gag and red grouper shorts, as well as an odd fish known as a guitar fish.
We fished again together on Saturday, just off the Registry, and caught a 25 inch gag grouper on a tomtate, as well as releasing about 90 fish, including keeper mangrove snapper, grunts and small gags. We also caught and released a 175 pound goliath grouper, which was tons of fun! The photo attached is of anglers Dave and Paul Bloomfield,with their 24 inch gag grouper, and mangrove snapper to 19 1/2 inches, caught this past Friday on a Fishbuster Charter. Check our Bonita Beach report also. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 06, 2003 - 12:38 pm: | |
I was only able to get one trip out this past week, due to what seemed to be ever-increasing winds and seas. But the one trip out to the 240 ledge area Friday was a good one. Using live shrimp, we caught six mutton snapper, including one keeper, a 24 inch gag grouper, white-bone porgies to 3 pounds, and large triggerfish. We used a small blue runner for bait to catch an 8 pound red grouper. We also caught and released a four foot lemon-shark. I’m hoping for more cooperative weather next week—The fishing has been great so far this winter, when the weather allows us to get out. Below is a photo of angler Brent Thompson and friend with their groupers, as reported. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 22
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 11:15 am: | |
Sunday, I fished around the ledges, using shrimp, and caught some nice lane snapper—The biggest I have seen, at 17 ½ inches. I also released a 3 ½ foot lemon shark.
I fished the bay Monday with Tim Beffa and friend, Dave. Using live shrimp, we caught a keeper redfish at 20 inches, four sheepshead, all 14-15 inches, and released smaller sheepshead and puffers. We fished down the channel toward Wiggins, behind the island.
I fished the 240 ledge with the Roberts family Tuesday—Bruce, Mark, Eric, and Eric’s sons, eight year old Holden and eleven year old Grant. We caught two keeper gag grouper, one 30 inches, which bit a snapper bait, and one 26 inches, caught on a blue runner. We also got a 27 inch Spanish mackerel, six nice mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a 14 inch hogfish, triggerfish, and white-bone porgies.
Wednesday, I fished the 240 ledge area with Jim Krall, Andy Ungar, and friends Rick & Jerry. We boated a 24 inch gag grouper, eighteen keeper mangrove snapper, triggerfish, porkfish and white-bone porgies. We also had lots of fun catching and releasing a 40 pound goliath grouper.
Thursday, I ate turkey, but Friday, I took Carl & Susan Baker and children, Matthew and Anna, fishing at the limestone breaks off Wiggins Pass. We got in as much fishing as we could in advance of the predicted cold front, and we boated Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, lane snapper to 12 inches, keeper mangrove snapper, and triggerfish. We released gag and red grouper shorts, and blue runners. The photo attached is of 11 year old angler, Grant Roberts, with a 30 inch gag grouper, caught this past Tuesday on a Fishbuster Charter. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 1:19 pm: | |
The rain, winds and seas kept us in port for a couple of days, but Friday was a great day fishing at the south ledge About 10 miles off the Registry Resort) with Jack Cade and friends, Dave, Bob, Steve, Bill & (another) Jack. We caught six limits of mangrove snapper to 15 inches, triggerfish, grunts, and porgies. Then, we topped it off with a 33 inch, 16 pound permit—Sort of a strange (but welcome) catch for this time of year, as permit are usually around in April, May and June. It bit a shrimp, although permit are known to favor crabs.
Saturday, Tom Budzinski and sons, Jason and Justin, fished with me at the 240 Ledge area, using shrimp and grunts for bait. We had a great day, and boated fifteen mangrove snapper to 16 inches, lane snapper to 15 inches, a 22 inch keeper gag grouper, and Spanish mackerel, porgies and triggerfish. I fished off Bonita Beach a couple times this week too, so check our report for there. The photo attached is of Brandon Gifford, age 6, with the 27 inch gag grouper he helped reel in last saturday, on a Fishbuster Charter. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 09, 2003 - 8:36 am: | |
I fished with Gregg Bedell and Blaine McKinney at the 240 ledge Friday. We got lucky with a seventeen pound, 43 inch kingfish that took a live shrimp on the bottom that we had intended for snapper (see photo below). We had no steel leader—Just a short piece of 30 lb. test tied to our 12 lb. main line. He ran out about 160 yards of the 180 yards on our reels. We boated that, along with a 16 inch yellowtail snapper, four 15 inch mangrove snapper, big porgies, and triggerfish.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:20 pm: | |
I fished off Naples, just south of New Pass, with Buzz and Nancy Sollers on Monday. We used live shiners, and got nice mangrove snapper to 16 inches and Spanish mackerel to 24 inches. We released small gag grouper and also a 15 inch scamp grouper.
Tuesday, I had a great morning of fishing at the 240 Ledge with Jack Smith Ken Adams, Mike Hartley & Jeff Adams. We used live shiners and shrimp, and we boated an 18 pound, 42 inch king mackerel, a 14 pound gag grouper (33 ½ inches), an 8 pound bonito, and seven mangrove snapper in the 16-17 inch range. We released a four-foot lemon shark.
Fishing Estero Bay Wednesday with Joe Braden, Tom & Bill Iverson, and Richard Corkin, we used live shrimp and shiners to catch and release two redfish, four snook, jack cravalle, mangrove snapper and sand bream.
Friday was a bit calmer, and I fished with Keith and Karen Grass, and son Mike, off Wiggins Pass. We caught two limits of mangrove snapper to 13 inches, keeper triggerfish and porgies, and released grouper shorts. The attached photo is of angler, Rob, with a 26 1/2 inch snook caught on a recent bayside Fishbuster Charter.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 12
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 12:05 pm: | |
I fished Monday in central Estero Bay with Dr. Lee & Elizabeth Tucker, ten year old son Mac, and six year old son, Will. Using shiners and live shrimp, we caught and released about 20 small snook, along with small snapper and redfish(see photo).
Chris Kory and friend, Mike, fished with me Tuesday at the Bonita reefs, where we caught keeper mangrove snapper, large grunts and porkfish, and Spanish mackerel to 23 inches. We released lots of blue runners, which are nearly always around when the mackerel are.
The photo below is of young angler, Mac Tucker, with a redfish he released in Estero Bay Monday. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com |
Capt. Rick Featherstone (Magichook)
New member
Username: Magichook
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - 5:47 am: | |
There is so much to write about its hard to begin. We just finished our ESPN shoot with George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing. The show targeted Goliath Grouper and tell that story. I cant say how the show will look, but I can tell you it was truly and awesome experience to be out there. Those guys work HARD! Working with a film crew, camera boat, sloppy seas, lighting, etc. its amazing how much there is to it. I will be telling the whole story on my website later this week, but suffice it to say we had amazing success. We hooked over 40 goliath grouper, and released half of those. We also caught cobia, permit, gag grouper, and a big shark. That was in a day and a half of shooting! They can only show four or five on the show due to time constraints. Those fish beat me up, and took me to the cleaners for sure. I did land a few, but thankfully George is and amazing angler with great strength and skill. These fish are like hooking a passing buss! By one the second day the whole crew was getting into the act and fishing for fun. It was then that all of the ribbing I had taken was pass right back to them.
I just returned from a few days of vacation in Key West. Mostly we rested but I did manage two great days in the backcountry of Marathon with Capt. Paul Fisicaro, Strip Strike Charters. We seen over one hundred bonefish, several permit, lots of sharks, cudas, and had a total blast going seven for fifteen on tarpon using spinning rods and twelve pound line. We also landed some nice jacks. During this trip using a Clouser and a fuzzy Merkin I caught cudas, snapper, black grouper, and mangrove snapper on fly as well.
Capt. Rick Featherstone
www.magichook.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2003 - 11:23 am: | |
I fished with Chris & Lissa Dillon on Monday. We used live shrimp, a few miles off the Registry Resort, and caught twelve keeper mangrove snapper, grunts, porkfish, and released blue runners. We saw a couple of cobia, which I spotted last week also, but so far, I’d had no bites from them: That changed on Wednesday, when I fished in 60-65 feet with Tybe Larson, and friends, Troy & Mark. We started the day in 65 feet, around Horseshoe Ledge. We caught and released at least fifty amberjack to 20 inches there, along with gag and red grouper shorts, some just a tad short of keeper. We also released yellowtails to 11 inches, as well as keeper-sized mangrove snapper & triggerfish. Then we moved to a wreck, and fished with live blue runners in 60 feet. That wreck was loaded with cobia—We spotted nine of them to over 50 pounds. We had four of them boatside, but they broke the lines and got away. One was about 30 pounds, and broke away just inches from being boated. We had two fun battles with goliath grouper there too. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com |
Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2003 - 2:34 pm: | |
(oops! accidentally posted this on Bonita page, but fished Naples--sorry!)I fished Estero Bay Thursday with Jim & Pat Hawkins. We caught and released four under-sized snook, and hooked two would-be keepers that broke the line. We also caught and released two redfish, one at 17 inches, and the other at 26 inches (pictured below). We used shiners at New Pass and the oyster bars.
Saturday, I fished ten miles off the Ritz Carlton with Lynn Welch and daughter, Vicki. Using live shrimp, we caught fourteen keeper mangrove snapper and keeper triggerfish, and released gag grouper shorts.
Sunday, John Carmack and Bill Maslow fished with me between 21 and 30 miles off Naples. We caught 3 nice bonito about 28 miles out, at the Monique shrimp boat wreck, using live pinfish. We also got a bunch of nice lane snapper and two limits of mangrove snapper on live shrimp, and we released grunts, blue runners, and grouper shorts.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2003 - 10:25 am: | |
I fished Saturday with Sam Alkhalaf and sons Alex, fourteen, and Joe, twelve. Fishing with live shrimp 12 miles out New Pass, off the Registry Resort, we caught keeper Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, triggerfish, porkfish, porgies, and grunts, and released gag and red grouper shorts. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com |
Captain Dave Hanson (Fishbuster)
New member
Username: Fishbuster
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 7:20 am: | |
I spent most of this week fishing off Bonita Beach, so check the report for there, but I did fish off naples one day.
Gregg Mullins, sons Bill and Mark, grandson Will-Henry, and family friend Bob Mansfield fished at the 240 Ledge with me Thursday. We dodged most of the day’s rain, but had a 15 knot wind and 3-4 foot seas. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, porgies, porkfish, and grunts.
Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 1:00 pm: | |
Subject: Snapper, Nurse-Shark, Snook, Spanish & Sheepshead
I fished Tuesday in 34 feet off Naples with Blaine Breit, son Chris, and daughter Mikayla. We caught two 25 inch Spanish mackerel, keeper triggerfish, and seven keeper mangrove snapper, all on live shrimp. We released small grunts and short red grouper. We also had a fun battle with a big nurse shark that came after one of our catches, until it finally broke our line.
I fished off Naples Thursday with the Peter Haluenen party, getting a late start after the morning rains. We caught five keeper mangrove snapper, two porkfish, and released lots of ladyfish and blue runners.
Jim & Novina Lynch fished Estero Bay with me Friday, around the islands toward Wiggins Pass. We caught and released a small snook, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and lots of 11 inch to 12 inch sheepshead. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 3:18 pm: | |
Subject: Bonnet-Shark, Snook,Keeper Mangroves & Mackerel
I fished Monday with the John Pear party, in 32 feet off Naples. We caught six keeper mangrove snapper, 7 keeper triggerfish, a dozen grunts, and porkfish. We released lots of blue runners, and gag and red grouper shorts.
I fished the bay on Friday with Carl and Susan Barker. Fishing the waterways leading to Wiggins Pass with live shrimp, we caught six keeper mangrove snapper, and released smaller snapper, sheepshead, jack cravalle, and a 3 ½ foot bonnet-shark.
Saturday morning, we fished with George & Bob Cordoza in the bay, along the inside of New Pass, until the rain-storm approached. We caught and released a 20 inch snook, then made a run for the dock, as the skies let loose. We fished the Bonita Reefs Sunday, so check out our Bonita report too. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2003 - 6:33 pm: | |
Subject: Keeper Grouper, Snapper; Big Kings & Shark
We fished with Gregg Bedell Thursday, at the 240 Ledge. We caught keeper mangrove snapper and lane snapper, and Spanish mackerel to 25 inches. We released grouper shorts. Fishing Saturday with the Jim Padavic party, over live bottom in 26-35 feet off Naples, we caught two limits of mangrove snapper to 14 inches, a 15 inch yellowtail snapper, keeper triggerfish to 14 inches, and nice sized porkfish. We released red grouper to 18 inches, ladyfish, and blue runners. Sunday, fishing with Dick Wilson, in 30 feet off Naples, we caught two keeper gag groupers at 23 inches and 24 inches, seven keeper mangrove snapper, triggerfish, grunts and porkfish. We spotted a big cobia and a 4 foot sharp-nose shark. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com |
Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 11:04 pm: | |
Subject: Spanish Mackerel,Snapper, Snook
We fished central Estero Bay Monday with Ron Scott and friends, Dan and Bob. We caught keeper sheepshead, and released small snapper, snook, jack cravalle, pufferfish and spadefish. In celebration of his father-in-law’s 80th birthday, Robert Gentry, his wife, and in-laws fished Estero Bay with us Tuesday, mostly under the trees around Wiggins Bay. We caught and released snook to 16 inches, keeper-sized sheepshead, and mangrove snapper. The Jim Capel party fished with us Friday at the 240 Ledge, and also at the limestone strips 10 miles off Wiggins, in about 33 feet. The porpoise disrupted our plans a few times, but we caught ten keeper mangrove snapper, 9 keeper lane snapper, keeper triggerfish, porgies & grunts, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We fished off Bonita Beach this week also, so check our report for there. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com |
Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 1:51 pm: | |
Subject: BIGGER Goliath, KingsSpanish,Hog,Lanes,Yellowtail
It was a slow bite in central Estero Bay Monday, fishing with Paul Olef. We caught and released snapper, sheepshead and jacks. We fished the 240 ledge with Ray Ford and son, Brian, Tuesday, using live shrimp. We caught king mackerel to 36 inches until the barracuda showed up, moved a bit, and caught lane snapper to 12 inches until the barracuda showed up there too! On our third spot, we caught keeper yellowtail snapper until the porpoise showed up. But, we managed to catch a few in each spot, and released gag grouper to 19 inches, triggerfish, and lots of blue runners.
Wednesday rained out, and Thursday and Friday had some pretty rough seas, but we were back out, 10 miles off Naples, fishing over live bottom with Ed and Ken Gilroy on Saturday. We caught Spanish mackerel to 26 inches, porkfish, grunts, and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released lots of blue runners again, and our trip was highlighted by a 100 + pound goliath grouper that we caught, photographed and released. We noticed lots of dead fish in the bay, so the red tide is still a factor out there. We fished with Alan & Cynthia Gitkin Sunday, again 10 miles off Naples. We caught a 15 inch hogfish, two limits of mangrove snapper to 14 inches, Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, and keeper triggerfish. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 12:54 pm: | |
Subject: Goliath Gulf;Nice Redfish Bayside-Big Stingray Too
We fished Monday, 10 miles off Naples with the Bruce Demoranville party. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, and keeper triggerfish, porkfish & grunts. We released gag grouper shorts and blue runners. We used one blue runner as bait to catch and release a 60 pound goliath grouper, which was quite a thrill for all.
Fishing central Estero Bay Tuesday with Bill White and son, Eric, we caught two redfish, one at 20 inches and one at 27 inches, which is maximum size for a keeper. We also caught and released mangrove snapper, ladyfish and a porcupine puffer.
We fished the bay Thursday with the Fred Marunde party, and caught a keeper redfish, keeper mangrove snapper, and released small jacks, puffers, and a 35 pound stingray. It was windy in the bay Friday, when we fished with Bill & Kevin Kamet, catching and releasing mangrove snapper at the islands toward Wiggins Pass. A stormy Saturday kept us in port. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 5:15 pm: | |
Subject: Snapper, Spanish, Hogs, Gags & Kings- Fishbuster
We fished the 240 Ledge on Monday with the Mark Vosbeek party. We caught 4 limits of mangrove snapper to 18 inches, triggerfish to 4 pounds, lane snapper to 16 inches, and jolthead porgies. We released approximately 150 pounds of gag grouper to 21 inches.
The Jim Crowley party fished Tuesday with us, using live shrimp in 36 feet off Naples. We caught three limits of mangrove snapper to 15 inches, triggerfish to 14 inches, Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, and a nice keeper gag grouper at 26 inches. Fishing Wednesday at the 240 Ledge with the Dick Timbers party, we caught a dozen mangrove snapper to 16 inches, an 18 inch hogfish, Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, and porgies, and released lots of gag shorts, and a 5 foot nurse shark.
Thursday the Bob Mansfield party fished with us in 34 feet off Naples. We caught keeper mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and Spanish mackerel to 25 inches. We released gag shorts, and lots of blue runners. The Andy Unger party fished the 240 ledge with us Friday. We caught 12 keeper lane snapper, grunts, and king mackerel to 35 inches. We released grouper shorts, and again, lots of blue runners. Saturday, Chuck Gornick, son Chris, and friend James fished the 240 ledge with us, and caught six keeper mangrove snapper, fifteen keeper lane snapper, Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, keeper triggerfish, and a 17 pound king mackerel. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 1:26 pm: | |
Subject: Mangroves, Lanes, Redfish- SW FL Fishbuster Dave
Last Sunday, the Marc Pumford party fished 8 miles off Naples with us. We caught keeper triggerfish, porkfish, grunts & snapper, on live shrimp. We also caught lots of gag grouper shorts, which we either released, or were eaten beside the boat by a barracuda that stalked us a good bit of the time.
We fished Monday with the Royals and the Smiths, 9 miles off Naples in 4-5 foot seas that had been predicted at 1-2 feet. Despite the rough seas, the group did well with keeper grunts, triggerfish & mangrove snapper. We released lots of blue runners and grouper shorts. The Royals and Smiths fished central Estero Bay with us, around New Pass, on Tuesday. We caught some small snapper, and Dan landed a 21½ inch redfish. We fished the bay again Wednesday with Tom Odom and Elizabeth Montgomery. We caught and released small redfish, snook, snapper, and jack cravalle.
Heavy surf advisories and wind gusts of 35 mph kept us in port Thursday and Friday. The Gregg Bedell party fished with us Saturday at the 240 Ledge, where we caught seven mangrove snapper to 15 inches and fifteen lane snapper to 12 inches. There were still some 4 foot seas out New Pass in the morning, but seas decreased to about 2 feet later in the day. We noticed a large area of discolored water (greenish-brown) right off the beach. We also got to see a 10 foot hammerhead shark, cruising toward Sanibel.
Fishing Sunday with the Bill La Marra party, including 7 year old grandson, Connor, we caught 3 limits of keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, Keeper Spanish mackerel, grunts, and released grouper shorts, in 35 feet off Naples. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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Captain Dave Hanson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 10:24 am: | |
Subject: Snapper, Spanish Macks, Gags Galore
Terry Foreman and Jeff Eldridge fished with us Wednesday, 9 miles off Naples in 33 feet, with live shrimp. We did well with mangrove snapper, catching 3 limits to 16 inches, along with keeper-sized Spanish mackerel, grunts and porkfish. Thursday, Bill and Ron Hoover fished with us, again in 30-35 feet off Naples. We caught a dozen mangrove snapper to 15 inches, a keeper gag grouper, and Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We had a barracuda surface to eat two of the mackerel beside the boat. We released keeper-sized triggerfish and porkfish, along with numerous grouper shorts.
The Leonard White party fished Friday with us at the 240 Ledge. We caught and released approximately 200 pounds of gag grouper, all measuring 21 to 21 ½ inches, just short of keeper size. We had several break-offs by large fish. We caught eight mangrove snapper to 15 inches, along with keeper triggerfish, porkfish and jolthead porgies. We also released loads of blue runners. We fished off Bonita Beach several times this week also, so check our report for there too. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com
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