Fishing Report From Capt

7-02-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, Robert Annan and sons Matthew and Brad fished in 38 feet, about 18 miles out of New Pass. We caught a mess of nice Spanish mackerel to 28 inches and mangrove snapper to 13 inches. The guys kept 3 fish for dinner and released the rest. We also got broken off twice on light tackle by goliath grouper and we got a close-up sighting of a sailfish just behind the boat.

Steve Toyota and sons Jake, age eight, and Max, age four, along with family friend, Rob, fished Estero Bay, around New Pass, with me on Tuesday. We used live shrimp to catch mangrove snapper and sheepshead and a small snook. One angler lost a big snook that appeared to be over 36 inches when it jumped through the mangroves and broke off.

Thursday I fished Estero Bay again, this time with Shane Hoover, her thirteen-year-old son Ben Griggs and Ben’s two friends, Michael Southern and Peter Ripke. We caught a keeper redfish at 20 inches, two keeper sheepshead, a fifteen inch flounder, a 15 inch black drum and a 20 inch bluefish. We released small mangrove snapper, all on live shrimp.

Carol Mathis, son Kenny and grandson Robert fished in 35 feet off new Pass with me on Friday. We caught some nice Spanish mackerel to 25 inches, a half dozen keeper mangrove snapper, porkfish and whitebone porgies. We released two bluefish and a 28 inch kingfish.

Saturday morning, I fished with Joe Consolo and his mother, Jerri, in 35 feet out of New Pass. We free-lined shrimp for Spanish mackerel, and caught about twenty of those, keeping a dozen nice ones 25-26 inches. Bottom fishing with shrimp, we caught four keeper mangrove snapper, whitebone porgies and, surprisingly, five hogfish. It is pretty unusual to catch that many hogfish in one trip, but Jerri had the magic touch—she hooked all five of them. Two of those were keeper size, so Joe and Jerri are in for some good eating. We released triggerfish and seven gag grouper shorts."

6-25-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “After a couple weeks off local waters, I fished Monday, 6/18 with brothers Mark and Robert Duhlberg and their children. We fished about 12 miles out of New Pass with live shrimp, and we caught Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, keeper mangrove snapper, whitebone porgies, triggerfish and porkfish. We released gag grouper shorts to 18 inches and a 3 ½ foot sand shark.

Tuesday, Gary Jones, his brother and seven-year-old nephew fished with me in 36 feet off New Pass. We caught Spanish mackerel to 26 inches, keeper lane snapper, porgies, grunts and triggerfish. Our little angler caught four nice Spanish and a load of porgies.

Uli and Uta Scheider and friends Bill and Joe fished in 32 feet out of New Pass with me on Wednesday. Their favorite is Spanish mackerel, and we did well with those to 26 inches free-lining shrimp in a chum slick. We also caught some porgies.

Dr. Leon Mead and son, Spencer, fished with me Thursday at the reefs off Bonita Beach, where we caught and released 30 Spanish mackerel to 26 inches. We also caught keeper mangrove and lane snapper to 12 inches and a 14 inch flounder, all on live shrimp.

It was a tough morning of fishing for the Bill Kaufman party on Friday. We started off the morning later than planned, due to no shrimp available at the bait shops. After delaying our trip 40 minutes for the promise of bait, we finally gave up and I brought a small reserve of live shrimp from my bait tank, along with some sardines. We headed out to about 30 feet out of New Pass, and we fished from 30 to 45 feet, having to move around a bit due to a slow bite and the interference from porpoise. I even turned my sonar off to deter the porpoise, but they found us no matter where we anchored. Although no bad weather was expected, we encountered three thunderstorms and four water spouts. One of the latter was pretty close by, and appeared to be about a quarter mile in size. Bill took some photos of that one. We ended up with keeper Spanish mackerel, porgies, and grunts—enough to keep the young angler onboard excited and happy, but short of the ideal we had hoped for. We released red and gag grouper shorts."

6-04-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished the tree lines in Estero Bay around Hickory Bay with Homer Jack Moore and wife Lorraine on Tuesday. We caught and released lots of mangrove snapper and a 14 inch sheepshead. We lost a nice redfish boat-side when I turned to get the landing net and Homer’s line caught on a mangrove root.

Wednesday’s planned bay trip cancelled at the last minute, so I didn’t get out fishing again until Thursday, when I fished Estero Bay with father and son Will and Justin Berry. We fished with live shrimp around Big Hickory Bay and caught a couple of keeper mangrove snapper and sand bream. We released short sheepshead.

Looks like some stormy weather in store the next several days. I will be closing down for a couple weeks for maintenance and respite, but will be fishing again the week of 6/18."

5-28-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Ben Sampson and girlfriend Jill just wanted to catch fish Monday morning, so we headed out in some fairly rough seas to the 5 mile reef. We caught triggerfish and keeper mangrove snapper there, but it was pretty sloppy, and for everyone’s comfort, we moved in closer to MAY reef. We got into a lot of Spanish there, and kept seven of those, along with some lane snapper.

Tuesday, I fished Estero Bay in the area of New Pass with George Peterman and friends Donna, Richard and Mike. We caught a couple keeper mangrove snapper and a couple of keeper sheepshead, and we released a 19 inch snook and a cravalle jack.

My offshore trips for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday never materialized, with winds howling once again. Wind has been the main theme around here since early April, with just a few calm days during the past six or seven weeks.

Saturday morning, my anglers who had scheduled an offshore trip were willing to try the bay instead, with winds and seas still rough offshore. Paul and Joyce Cherubino and nephew Bob Leeks fished the tree lines on the east side of New Pass and Big Hickory Pass, with live shrimp. Bob landed two 21 inch redfish. Paul followed up with a 20 inch red, and Joyce caught a 15 inch sheepshead. We released smaller sheepshead."

5-14-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, ”Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought strong gusty winds and high seas, which caused me to reschedule my offshore anglers for later in the week. I finally headed out Thursday on a catch-and-release trip with Harry Oleferak. NOAA had predicted two to four foot seas, but I knew they would be at the higher end of that range, with the winds still blowing hard. We stayed close in at the reefs off Bonita Beach, and even there we had three to four foot seas and a steady wind of 15 knots. We used small cravalle jack and blue runners for bait. We caught and released Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, and an eight pound goliath grouper. We also had a bigger goliath cut our line, and a 3 ½ foot barracuda eat one of our blue runners.

Anglers Eric Harper and Dave Enayert had been waiting since Monday for a day calm enough to go after goliath grouper. The two wanted the thrill of the big catches, and I knew trying to catch those in the rough seas we had earlier this week would be next to impossible. Friday we finally had two foot seas at the reefs, so we seized the opportunity to load up the heavy tackle. We released six goliaths boat-side that ranged from 75 pounds to over 200 pounds. The biggest one was 5 ½ feet long. We caught them all on blue runners and small Spanish mackerel.

5-07-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, I fished Tuesday in 80 feet on a 265 heading out of New Pass with anglers Jim McCarthy and friend, Dan. We had one great day fishing. Baited with live shrimp, we began catching some nice yellowtail snapper to 16 inches, landed about eight of those along with keeper lane snapper to 12 inches. We kept four of the latter and released the rest. We also released ten nice-sized banded rudder fish, two king mackerel at 26 inches and 40 inches, and short grouper to 20 inches. Our best catch was a 25 pound blackfin tuna, which we caught, believe it or not, on half a shrimp. We got that big boy boated, and I put a hunk of squid on the pole while I was getting the tuna on ice. Suddenly, the rod screamed--I thought it was another tuna. It spooled 200 plus yards of Power-Pro line. For 35 minutes with one angler on the reel and one on the top of the rod, we fought that fish. At the end of a long run, with no line left, I lifted the rod-tip ever so slightly. There was a big thrust on the end, and a 7 foot bull shark snapped the rod in half just under the big guide. With both pieces of the pole held fast, we fought that big boy to the end, thanked him for the fight, and released him. The thrill was well worth the damages!

Wednesday morning, my old friends Chris and Lissa Dillon from Indiana were in town for business, and they managed to reserve some pleasure time, along with friend Ed Bosch, to fish offshore with me. We headed out about 15 miles on a 260 heading from New Pass with some shrimp and pinfish in the bait well. We caught twenty keeper-sized lane snapper, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, a 28 inch kingfish, porkfish, whitebone porgies, a 25 inch goliath and grouper shorts to 19 inches. We caught one keeper gag grouper at 23 inches on a pinfish. We released all but the keeper gag and a few lanes.

I fished with Jim McCarthy and Dan Gilbert again on Thursday, about 37 miles out of New Pass on a 260 heading. No tuna this time, but our shrimp and squid served up five mangrove snapper to 17 inches and ten keeper yellowtail snapper. We released gags just short of legal to 21 inches and red grouper to 18 inches, along with porgies. We had two big sharks cut lines a couple times, but never close enough to see what kind.

Saturday, I headed back out to the same area with Jim Ozark and two of his friends. We used shrimp and squid to catch a dozen keeper yellowtail snapper, a half dozen lane snapper, grunts porgies and triggerfish. We released a variety of grouper shorts—reds, gags and scamps."

4-30-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, the seas were still rough, but a little calmer, and I fished with Sandy Hook, son Rusty, Rusty's young son Charlie, and a friend, Sam. Fishing in 33 feet out of New Pass with shrimp, we caught ten keeper lane snapper, grunts and porgies, and released gag grouper shorts and blue runners.

Tuesday, I headed out on a 260 degree heading from New Pass with Ron Musick, Dick Arnell, Justin Baker and friend Jim. We started a chum line and were bottom fishing with live shrimp in three to four foot seas. We started to catch some pretty nice yellowtail and mangrove snapper to 16 inches, along with a lot of porgies. Suddenly, one of the rods took off running, and we thought it was a bonito, a king mackerel or a shark. It spooled down to the bottom of the spool, and after three more long runs, we worked it back up to the boat to finally get a glimpse. When we saw its 3 foot length we figured it wasn't a bonito. Then we saw the black on its back and knew it was a blackfin tuna. I grabbed a hunk of squid to put on another pole, and tossed it out. We were still rejoicing over the first one when a second one the same size hit. So we got two of those, which are the first two I have caught in all my years of fishing. It was a very good morning!

Wednesday morning I fished Estero Bay, in the area of Wiggins Pass, with Ron Constantini and Rick Staubach. We caught a keeper redfish and a nice 16 inch sheepshead, and released smaller sheepshead and cravalle jacks.

Thursday it was still kind of sloppy even close-in at the reefs off Bonita Beach. I fished with Frank Vayda, and friends. We caught fourteen Spanish mackerel to 24 inches—a barracuda in the area ate a couple of them. We also caught a keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper. We released short grouper and a 40 inch lemon shark.

Harvey Cleland and friends Ed and Tim fished Estero Bay with me, in the Wiggins Pass area, on Friday morning. We fished with live shrimp until the tide quit moving, and caught four keeper sheepshead and keeper mangrove snapper. We released cravalle jacks.

I fished Estero Bay again Saturday morning with Terry Major and her friends, Carol, Cheryl and Rhonda. We caught a keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper, and released a 20 inch snook."

4-23-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I returned from a long weekend family event hoping to fish offshore on Monday. But the winds that blew before I left were only worse on my return. With gusts to 40 mph and seas offshore at 10-12 feet, I had no choice but to cancel Monday’s fishing trip.

Tuesday, my anglers said they wanted to give near-shore a try, despite predictions for increasing winds and seas. We headed out toward the reefs, and within thirty minutes we had taken a wave over the bow. Seas were 3-5 feet. We reversed course and headed back to shore. The winds have been relentless so far this month.

It finally calmed enough on Wednesday to get offshore. I fished out about 36 miles on a 250 heading from New Pass with Ron Musick and friend, Dick. We caught and released a five foot black-tip shark, and had what would have been three keeper red grouper, had the sharks not gotten all but the heads. That shark kept Ron fighting for a good long while! We did manage to catch some eatin' fish too, including a 16 inch mangrove snapper, keeper lane and yellowtail snapper, and Spanish mackerel. We released red grouper shorts to 19 inches--the sharks didn't mess with those, but took all our keeper reds.

Thursday, predictions were for two to four foot seas, but the winds blew over twenty knots all morning and seas ranged from three to nearly six feet. I fished in 28-30 feet off Bonita Beach with Dr. Bob James, Bob James Jr., and Doug James. Fishing was tough in those seas, and we released a 21 inch gag grouper, a few grunts and porgies.

My Friday anglers were driving in from Sarasota, and with seas predicted to persist into Friday and winds still strong Thursday evening, I couldn’t guarantee good conditions, and we scrapped the trip.

Repetitious as it may be, the winds were blowing hard Saturday morning. My anglers took my suggestion to fish Estero Bay. Peter Richards and his three young children, Marc, Danielle and Isabelle, fished with live shrimp in the area of Wiggins Pass. The kids had plenty of action and counted sixteen hooked fish. Among those were four keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead and a whiting. We released the rest of the catches, which included smaller sheepshead and a 13 inch trout.”

4-16-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, seas were predicted at two to three feet offshore, but fishing even close-in at the reefs, it was much rougher than that, especially as the winds increased mid-morning. I fished with Carl and Susan baker, and daughter Anna. We caught a few keeper snapper and sheepshead, and released lots of smaller snapper, sheepshead, triggerfish and grouper. We also released lots of blue runners, and we were broken off twice by a couple of king mackerel.

I fished in 40 feet out of New Pass on Tuesday with Dick Timbers, John, Chris and Dan King, and Shane Gannon. We caught keeper lane snapper, whitebone porgies, and Spanish mackerel. We released a seven pound cravalle jack, along with gag and red grouper shorts and triggerfish.

Wednesday, I fished an inshore trip with Leeds Hutchinson, son John, and grandsons Tommy and Brandon. Fishing in the New Pass area of Estero Bay with live shrimp, we caught a 20 inch redfish, two snook to 20 inches, two sheepshead to 15 inches, and a 2 ½ pound cravalle jack. We released all but the redfish.

Thursday, I awoke to thunderstorms. Radar indicated a good amount of rain offshore. I advised my anglers to wait for a bit so I could better see how conditions would shape up. There was some clearing by about 9AM, and it might have given us a chance to get out to the reefs, but I surely couldn’t guarantee a rain-free trip in smooth waters. With 4 youngsters included in their party, they thought it best to scrap our fishing plans. Because of a long-weekend family event, I remained off the water for the next three days also."

4-09-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach with Dave Yoder and family on Monday. We started at the 5 mile reef, where we caught some decent sized triggerfish, then moved in to MAY reef to catch lots of Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, using live shrimp.

Tuesday I fished with Ross Christenson, Dave Kempston and Dave’s sons Alex, Brennan, and Connor, in 38 feet off Sanibel. With live shrimp for bait, we caught keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches, Spanish mackerel to 27 inches, whitebone porgies and other bottom fish. We released gag and red grouper to 19 inches, and 7 ½ year old Connor enjoyed posing with one of those gags before releasing it.

Wednesday I headed to the reefs with Scott Stuckey and his two young sons, eleven-year-old Jacob and seven-year-old Zachary. The tide was slow and the winds were variable, making it kind of tough to hook-up. But the boys had fun catching three keeper pompano to 14 inches, and Spanish mackerel to 22 inches. They released lots of blue runners and gag grouper shorts.

Thursday I had a last minute cancellation, so I stayed in port to do some maintenance. Unfortunately, that hiatus extended into Friday and Saturday, as a late-season cold front arrived, bringing gusty winds and seas from 3-8 feet for the weekend."

4-02-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished a catch and release trip in Estero Bay Monday with Leeds Hutchinson, son Bill, and grandsons Joe and Tim. We fished a slow incoming tide along the channel by New Pass, with live shrimp. We caught a keeper-sized redfish at 19 inches, two small snook, a few keeper-sized sheepshead and lots of smaller sheepshead, lady fish, and cravalle jacks.

Fishing Tuesday at the reefs off Sanibel with Tom Batchellor and friends Becky, Chris and Jean, we had to battle the goliath grouper for the sheepshead. We got some keepers to 14 inches, but the goliaths stole every one of the larger ones. We also caught Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, so there was plenty to fill the dinner bag. We released gag grouper shorts.

I fished Wednesday a little further out Wednesday in 40 feet off Sanibel, since the winds and seas were calmer than they have been in awhile. Fishing with Christine Elzinga, Ron Sparks, and Ron’s uncle, Joe Grimsley, we used live shrimp to catch keeper mangrove and lane snapper to 15 inches, triggerfish, grunts, and Spanish mackerel to 22 inches. We released gag and red grouper shorts to 18 ½ inches, along with two small 20 inch kingfish. I was happy to see some kings at last, and I am hoping the bigger ones are moving in now.

Fishing Thursday in 35 feet off Sanibel with Stewart Norris and friends Richie and Bob Riehner, we were hoping for some of those kingfish. There were certainly a lot of blue runners around, which are pretty typical in kingfish territory, but the only mackerel around were of the Spanish variety—We caught those to 22 inches, along with keeper mangrove snapper, and released lots of gag and red grouper shorts again.

A windy front began coming through the area on Friday, and it got progressively rougher offshore, fishing with Lee Larsen, Bud Glanzer and friends, Tom and Steve. We caught keeper Spanish mackerel, triggerfish, and mangrove snapper, but had to release all the gag grouper, because the largest of those was only 21 inches.

Saturday morning, the winds were still gusting, but the Boyd Bowden party decided to give it a go, since weather had foiled their fishing plans several times previously this season. We headed out to the 5-mile reef off Bonita Beach with live shrimp, and began catching sheepshead. But, we only got to boat one of those, since the goliath grouper were feeling greedy that morning. We had pretty steady 3-4 foot seas, even just five miles out, so we decided to let the goliaths have the rest of the sheepshead, and we moved a little closer toward shore to the MAY reef. We caught lots of Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, kept fifteen of them for dinner, and released the rest."

3-26-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday brought low tide conditions back to Estero Bay, and I couldn't even fish my usual oyster bars with Scott and Jeanine Nelson and their children, Olivia and Conner. We managed to catch a few fish in places where I found enough water, and kept two 14 inch sheepshead and a keeper trout. We released smaller sheepshead and lots of ladyfish.

The winds and seas picked up Tuesday, and I encountered some 4-footers in only 17 feet of water, fishing with Jerry Rangaard and Tom and Gerry Palen. We hung in there, and caught a dozen sheepshead to 17 inches. We lost two big ones to a goliath grouper, and we released a 21 inch gag grouper, at the reefs off Sanibel and Bonita Beach.

That windy weather front kicked seas offshore up to 3-5 feet on Wednesday. Thursday was only marginally better offshore, and tides in Estero Bay were very low. I canceled my trips those days. So far, though, weather has been pretty fishing-friendly this season, so although I felt bad for my scheduled anglers, I really can’t complain.

Seas calmed enough to at least get out to the near-shore reefs on Friday, with Michael Azar and his three children. We caught Spanish mackerel to 23 inches and keeper sheepshead to 14 inches, on live shrimp.

Saturday, I fished a catch and release trip with Dean Stanton and his son, Dean Jr. We headed to one of the reefs off Bonita Beach to fish for sheepshead, and released seven of those to 17 inches before the goliath grouper moved in. I had my big Ambassador rigged with a small blue runner, hoping a gag grouper might bite it. Instead, a huge goliath hit it, and stripped the gears off my reel as well as the skin off my thumb! We surrendered to the goliaths, and moved to another reef closer in, where we had steady action with Spanish mackerel. We released twenty of those."

3-19-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, I fished with Jon and Rebecca Marty and Rebecca’s parents, Larry and Diane, in 45-48 feet northwest of New Pass. We caught plenty of good eating fish for the group, using live shrimp to lure keeper sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, triggerfish, grunts and porgies.

Tuesday, I fished some different spots with Louis Wolfe and friends, in about 30 feet, off Wiggins Pass. There were loads of small bait fish and blue runners everywhere, and I was hoping they might be predicting the arrival of the king mackerel, but no such luck yet. We did catch a dozen Spanish mackerel to 22 inches, sheepshead and grunts, and we released small gags.

I fished a windy Wednesday morning with Ralph and Kristen Daby, in Estero Bay, around Big Carlos Pass. We kept five pretty nice sheepshead to 15 inches and a mangrove snapper, and released lots of smaller ones. We also caught keeper Spanish mackerel in the pass, all on live shrimp.

Seas started building on Thursday, in advance of a cold front approaching. Brothers Bob and Eric Erickson and their dad, Kent, had planned to fish a full-day, but we took the first wave over the bow by noon, and decided we’d head in about 12:30. We did well with keeper sheepshead—a dozen of those to 20 inches, along with Spanish mackerel to 245 inches. We released smaller sheepshead and triggerfish, in 38 feet, off of Sanibel.

It was a good day for bay fishing Friday. The rains predicted never arrived here—they seemed to hit mostly south of us. In fact, the weather front brought higher than normal tides in the bay, which worked in our behalf. I loaded up on live shrimp, and headed out for a morning of fishing with Joe Goodall and his six year old son, Alex, Dave Bixby and Charlie Cinader. We fished up toward New Pass, and caught a bunch of nice sheepshead, keeping eleven of those to 15 inches. We also got a keeper redfish at 18 ½ inches, and released a 22 inch snook, along with the rest of the sheepshead.

I ended up fishing the bay again on Saturday, since the tides were still higher than expected, with the wind out of the north. My anglers had planned to fish offshore were thwarted by 5-8 foot seas, so they decided to swap their gulf plans for a morning of fishing in Estero Bay.

Leon Dargis, sons Kurt and Brett, and nine year old grandson Blake fished with me in the same spots I fished yesterday. We had good success again with sheepshead—caught seven of those to 16 inches—and we also got an 18 ½ inch redfish, and released a 20 inch snook—almost a carbon copy of Friday’s trip."

3-12-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday morning was chilly and windy, with rough seas offshore. Low tide in the bay made for less than ideal conditions, but my father-son angling team, Bill & Mike Evans decided to give it a go. We fished anywhere we found water deep enough in Estero Bay , up toward New Pass. We did okay, considering conditions, with four keeper sheepshead all around 14 inches, a keeper mangrove snapper, and two whitings. We released lots of ladyfish.

Tuesday, the seas were still pretty rough early, but they calmed down quite a bit by mid-morning. I fished in 35 feet off Sanibel with Gary and Kathy Yatteau, and daughters Eileen Yatteau and Laurie Grieco on a catch and release trip that provided fun with eight sheepshead to 17 inches, keeper mangrove snapper, and Spanish mackerel to 22 inches.

Jim Chisholm and friends wanted some eating fish, and they got a cooler full of sheepshead to 17 inches, mangrove snapper, porgies and Spanish mackerel. We released lots of red and gag grouper also, in 35-47 feet off Sanibel, fishing with live shrimp.

Thursday, Jerry and Barb Rudan fished with me on a catch and release trip in 35 feet off Sanibel. We released sheepshead to 18 inches, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel. Seas were calm, the weather was perfect, and the action was steady.

A cooler full of sheepshead made my anglers happy on Friday. Bill Story, Leonard White, and friends Merv, Hank and Mike caught a total of twenty of those, and kept fifteen of them to 20 inches. We also caught Spanish mackerel to 22 inches, all on live shrimp, in 35-40 feet off Sanibel.

Saturday, Carol Younkins took her young sons, Andy and Mark, fishing with me. I went after more sheepshead, since I knew they were a sure bet, and would be fun for the boys to catch. We got seven of those to 18 inches, fishing with live shrimp in 30 feet off Sanibel."

3-05-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Large sheepshead were definitely the catch du jour on Monday when I fished with Leon Dargis and Bob Rose, in 30 feet off Sanibel. We caught a total of twenty five, and kept the biggest five, which ranged from 17 to 21 inches. We had fun with those until the goliath grouper moved in to eat all the fish. Heading back in, we had heavy for with zero visibility—glad I have radar!

The fog was still thick Tuesday morning, when I set out after more sheepshead for Mike & Lee Connealy and friend, Dick. We fished hard bottom in 40 feet off Sanibel with live shrimp, and caught a total of twenty sheepshead, releasing all but seven of the largest, to 22 inches. We also released mangrove shorts and a four foot goliath grouper we had fun wrestling for a while. The water was so clear, we could spot the goliath on the bottom, so we decided to throw a bait out for him, and he obliged.

The sheepshead bite was strong again on Wednesday, fishing in 38 feet off Sanibel with Brad Clemons and his girlfriend, Amanda McCrackin. We again caught a total of about twenty-five, and kept seven of the largest, which ranged from 18 to 22 inches. We released red grouper shorts, mangrove snapper and triggerfish.

Thursday, seas started off pretty calm, when I fished in 35 feet off Sanibel with Ron Musick and friends Alan, Dick and Hank. By noon, it started getting pretty sloppy out there, with winds picking up to 20 knots and seas building to above three feet, so we headed in about 12:30. By that time, we had had plenty of fun catching and a keeper snapper and twenty six sheepshead to 18 inches. We released half of them, along with triggerfish.

The seas that started building on Thursday continued to increase into Friday morning, and with small craft advisories issued for Friday, I cancelled my offshore trip. Conditions were less than favorable in the bay, with low tide and gusty winds, so we decided against backwater fishing too.

Saturday was another one of those days between two weather fronts. The morning might have been calm enough to fish the reefs, but my anglers were a bit squeamish, with 2-4 foot seas predicted and fears of sea-sickness, so they decided to pass."

2-19-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “There was a rainy start to the week in advance of the next cold front, and I had to cancel my fishing plans that day. Tuesday, the sun reappeared, but with seas still high offshore, I fished Estero Bay, toward Wiggins Pass, with Scott Towmley, his girlfriend Chris, his uncle Mike, and friend Luke Rogers. We caught and released keeper sized mangrove snapper, along with sheepshead, ladyfish, a 20 inch snook and a 17 ½ inch redfish.

I fished central Estero Bay, toward New Pass, on Wednesday with Joe Martorano and his father, Andy. We did well with sheepshead on live shrimp, catching six of those to 15 inches, along with a keeper mangrove snapper. We released a couple of undersized trout and some ladyfish.

Thursday, Jim Kennedy, son Pat, and friend Earl fished Estero Bay with me, above New Pass. We were expecting a couple of light showers early, based upon predictions, but we ended up getting a pretty steady light rain most of the morning. We put on our rain ponchos, and caught an 18 inch bluefish, and some keeper sheepshead to 15 inches. We released a trout just short of legal size, along with some ladyfish.

Saturday was a day between weather fronts--still not calm from the front that came through, and starting to build seas again in advance of the next one. Offshore didn't look like it would be too pleasant or productive, and with the bay looking mighty dry, I cancelled my Saturday trip."

2-05-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, another cold front that passed through the area kicked up seas offshore to 6-8 feet, and I had to cancel my offshore trip. By Tuesday, seas were calmer, although there was still a 3-4 foot swell out there early, when I headed out to 40 feet with Bill Story, Bernie Didoro, and friends Tom, Jim, Dave and Mike. Armed with plenty of live shrimp, we caught three limits of mangrove snapper to 17 inches and a keeper gag grouper at 26 inches. We released lots of gag and red grouper shorts, and snapper shorts. We also caught 14 inch whitebone porgies, and Spanish mackerel to 22 inches.

Wednesday, I headed out about twenty miles out of new Pass with Jim McCarthy and friend, Dan. We had some pretty rough seas for a while, with 5-6 footers at times, but by about 2PM, seas had laid down to a calm 1-2 feet. We used live shrimp, and caught a dozen nice mangrove snapper to 16 inches, lots of Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, porgies, whitings, gag grouper shorts, and a six pound bonito. We released all but the snapper.

Fishing Estero Bay was tough on Thursday when Lee Larsons, Bud Lancer, and friends Paul, Steve and John had to give up their offshore plans, due to small craft advisories in the Gulf. We did our best in windy, low tide conditions, and managed to catch a keeper snapper and sheepshead. We released a few smaller sheepshead. Winds got progressively higher all day, and advisories were extended to Friday. I cancelled my offshore trip that day, and given conditions bayside, I did not even offer backwater fishing as an option. Saturday was no better, so I advised my anglers to reschedule their planned trip. I'm hoping the wind stops blowing soon!

1-28-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished Estero Bay, down toward Wiggins Pass on Monday with Leeds Hutchinson and Pete Sohldon. We used live shrimp to catch two keeper sheepshead at 14 inches and 16 inches, and three keeper mangrove snapper. We released smaller shepshead and a cravalle jack.

Fishing at the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach Tuesday with Jim Ozark and father-in-law, Jim Kincaid, we caught keeper sheepshead and mangrove snapper, and released gag grouper to 18 inches, grunts, and a nine pound goliath grouper. There was a pretty good swell even that close in, with another cold front approaching this week.

Wednesday morning, I headed to the reefs again, this time with Ed and Margie Bock. We caught a mess of nice snapper—lanes and mangrove, as well as keeper Spanish mackerel, using live shrimp. We started getting some light rain by about 11:30AM, so headed in a bit early to avoid the worst of it, as it was building in the Gulf.

Thursday, I awoke to rain, as expected, and was planning to cancel my fishing trip, but when I called my eager anglers, Mike Hughes, his son Luke, and Luke’s grandfather, Leon, they wanted to tough it out for an opportunity to catch fish. The Gulf was definitely out of the question, so we fished the bay, with our rain gear on, and the rain didn’t let up until just before 11AM. We caught sheepshead to 17 inches, ladyfish, and a two pound crevalle jack. We released all except for two sheepshead that were 14 inches and 17 inches.

Friday morning, with seas still high offshore, Bob Pumford and friend Larry opted to fish the backwaters. We caught a keeper redfish at 20 inches, and released a 16 inch red. We also caught two keeper sheepshead, and released several small sheepshead, along with a small snook.

Saturday, I headed offshore to about 40 feet with Norm Ayer and Pete Gonzales. Seas were predicted to be two feet, but we were in three and four foot seas most of the morning, until it calmed some. We were fishing for snapper, and caught three limits of those, all 15 to 17 inches. We released lots of smaller ones, along with whitebone porgies and porkfish."

1-15-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished Monday at a wreck about 28 miles west of New Pass with Jim McCormick, his daughter Marin, and friend Dan Gilbert. We caught a nice variety of fish, but the snapper bite didn’t really heat up until late in the afternoon, which is when we caught most of the nice mangrove snapper. We got eight of those to 18 1/2 inches, and also got a pretty nice hogfish at 15 inches. We caught triggerfish and porgies too, and released a 12 pound amber jack, red grouper to 19 inches and gag grouper to 21 inches. We had our lines broken five times by goliath grouper, and there were loads of blue runners everywhere.

Late Monday night, the winds began blowing hard in advance of a cold front, and small craft advisories were issued, with 4-6 foot seas through Wednesday. I cancelled my trips. On Thursday, even though low tide made conditions less than optimal in the bay, Bill Kaufman followed through with plans for himself and his thirteen year old son, Chris, to go fishing. With my best efforts directed toward having Chris catch anything, we managed to hook up with some sheepshead and ladyfish, all tossed back in, of course. The fun of catching was the most important thing to Chris. He got to spot a few porpoise jumping in the bay too.

Friday and Saturday, with seas offshore still three to five feet, I again cancelled my offshore trips, setting my sites on Monday, when it looks like it might be calm enough to get back offshore."

1-08-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “After some family time to bring in the new year, I headed offshore again on Tuesday, Fishing with brothers Mark and Tony Kapala in 35 feet out of New Pass with live shrimp, we encountered some four foot seas early in the day, but they calmed to two to three’s after a while. We caught seven keeper mangrove snapper to 15 12 inches, keeper sheepshead, Spanish mackerel to 22 inches, and whitebone porgies. We released gag and red grouper shorts.

Thursday, I fished with Dr. Boyd Bowden and friends, in 38 feet out of New Pass. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 14 inches, a fourteen inch hogfish, Spanish mackerel, triggerfish and whitebone porgies, all on live shrimp. We released grouper shorts to 19 inches.

Friday, the winds were blowing again, but I fished the backwaters, so we didn’t have to deal with rough seas. John Windsor, his son, John Jr., and friend Mark fished down toward Wiggins with me with live shrimp, and we caught keeper mangrove snapper and released eight sheepshead.

Saturday, I fished in 38 feet out of New Pass with Dean Stanton and son, Dean, Jr. The bite was kind of slow, but we caught some keeper (14 inch) mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, porgies and triggerfish. We released grouper shorts to 18 inches. The water temperature was 74.5, which is pretty warm for this time of year. Usually, the water is colder this time of year, and brings the larger sheepshead and snapper in closer. On our way in, we ran through thousands of dead mullet about ten miles off Naples—not sure what might have caused that large of a kill.”

Captain Dave Hanson
Marti Hanson, Manager
Fishbuster Charters, Inc.
239 947-1688
www.fishbustercharters.com
fishbuster@comcast.net

1-01-07

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Tuesday after Christmas brought rain and high seas, and I had to cancel my offshore trip for that day. Wednesday was still rough offshore, but it was dry, and my anglers changed plans to fish in Estero Bay instead of the Gulf. Robert, Justin and Jeffrey Hooper fished with me around New Pass, where we caught a couple of keeper sheepshead to 15 ½ inches, and released smaller sheepshead, a 19 inch snook, and ladyfish. As often happens right after a cold front, the fishing was a bit slow, but we were fortunate to get some bites and to catch a couple of keepers.

Thursday, I headed offshore about eleven miles from New Pass and fished in 35 feet, with Craig Royal, son Dan, and two of Dan’s friends, Eric and Jeff. We caught keeper mangrove and lane snapper, porgies, grunts and triggerfish, and released short gag grouper.

Friday morning seas were a bit rough at first, although they calmed down pretty quickly. With a six year old angler on board, I decided the near-shore reefs and other near-shore spots would be the safest, best option. I fished in 35 feet with Harry Stephenson, son-in-law, mark Smith, and grandson Harry Smith. We used live shrimp to catch three limits of keeper mangrove snapper, all 13 to 15 ½ inches. We released a bunch more keeper size mangs. We also got keeper sheepshead and porgies, and we released gag grouper to 21 inches and red groupers to 18 inches. I think there might have been a few bigger ones out there, because lines were broken twice by something larger in the rougher waters early in the morning.

My trip on Saturday was a sight-seeing venture. Although it was strange not to wet a line, it might have been a good choice, with winds and seas on the increase most of the day. It was a perfect day for sight-seeing, and they enjoyed that, along with lunch at a waterfront restaurant."

12-25-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday, I fished a catch and release trip with the Snyder family—Dave and Rhonda, son Ryan, and daughter Lenay. We headed out with live shrimp to about 19 miles out of New Pass, where we fished in 35 feet. We caught a nice hogfish, keeper mangrove snapper all around 14 inches, keeper-sized sheepshead and triggerfish. We also released about thirty good sized whitebone porgies, along with lots of gag and red grouper shorts.

Mid week brought some windy, rough conditions to the area, and I headed back offshore for a few hours on Saturday with John, Greg, Andrew and Ethan Monk. We fished at the reefs and in 30 feet over structure, mostly for sheepshead, and we caught some nice ones to 17 inches, along with porgies and triggerfish.

Sunday and Monday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, were reserved for family time, so that’s it for this week—Happy holidays to all!"

12-18-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “after a blustery weekend, I headed to the artificial reefs on Monday with John Maliszewski and friends, Phil, Russ, and Irv. Seas were decreased to 2-3 feet most of the day, although there was still a pretty stiff wind blowing. We caught keeper mangrove snapper and a half dozen nice triggerfish, and released short gag and red grouper.

Fishing Tuesday with Reiner Neumann and friends in 35 feet out of New Pass, we caught sheepshead, porkfish, grunts and triggerfish. The grouper we caught wasn’t keeper size, but at least we released larger ones than I have been seeing lately—gag grouper to 20 inches and red grouper to 17 inches.

Wednesday, I fished in 70 feet out of New Pass with Larry Mosher and friends, Dennis, Dave, Ronnie & Toby. We caught keeper mangrove snapper, porgies, and keeper sheepshead. One angler lost what looked like a keeper sized gag grouper when it snapped the line. And we fought a big bonito for about ten minutes, before it snapped the line. We released two goliath grouper, one weighing 35 pounds, and one at 175 pounds. We also released lots of red grouper, gag grouper and scamp grouper shorts. We caught everything on live shrimp and cut-bait, except for the goliaths, which bit blue runners.

Thursday morning, I awoke to the sound of rain, and though it was a light drizzle at that time, forecasters called for a 90% chance of rain, becoming more likely as the day progressed. With no trip scheduled for Friday, I offered that alternative to my anglers, brothers Robert and Gale Taylor, and we set our sites on a drier excursion Friday morning.

That turned out well for us, fishing in 40 feet out of New Pass. We caught the first keeper-sized gag grouper I have seen in a while—a pretty nice 24 inch one. My anglers had their lines broken three times, probably by grouper that got down in the rocks. We also landed two nice hogfish, and six keeper mangrove snapper, all around 13-14 inches. We released short mangroves, gags and red grouper. Seas were calm, and with the cloud cover, it was a pleasant day offshore.

Saturday morning, it was raining early, but the radar looked as if it would fizzle to a drizzle and clear. I headed out of new Pass to 40 feet again, with John Iacuone, friend Mitch, and Mitch’s son, Alex. It ended up raining lightly most of the morning, but we stayed and fished. We caught keeper mangrove snapper, porgies, triggerfish, and a keeper hogfish. There weren’t any keeper grouper this time, but we released lots of gags to 20 inches and reds to 18 inches.”

12-11-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “I fished on a very windy Monday in Estero Bay with John Hull and his dad, Bob. We fished several holes with live shrimp, and did pretty well with hook-ups and variety. We caught a keeper flounder, keeper pompano, three sand bream, two keeper redfish to 20 inches, and keeper sheepshead. We released short reds and ladyfish.

Art and Donna Johnson, Tom Satchall, and Tom’s mother, Mary Satchall fished in potholes and around the mangroves in lower Estero Bay with me on Tuesday. We caught six keeper sheepshead to 15 inches, along with some sand bream, and we released lots of smaller sheepshead.

Wednesday, I fished the artificial reefs off Bonita Beach with Jim Killips and Joel Gunther. We caught keeper sheepshead, mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and a 17 inch flounder, all on live shrimp.

Fishing in 40 feet out of New Pass Thursday with Carl Foust and friends Todd and Brenda, we caught keeper mangrove snapper, grunts and porgies. We released a twenty pound goliath grouper, along with lots of short gag and red grouper.

With the cold front that arrived on Friday, winds picked up to 25 knots or more, and seas were 5-7 feet. Needless to say, I cancelled my offshore trip for that day, as well as for Saturday, which remained windy and rough."

12-04-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “ Tuesday, I fished in Estero Bay with Pat Cahil, girlfriend Debbie Szymski, and Debbie’s uncle, Reno Bracci. We used live shrimp, fishing down toward Wiggins Pass, and caught three pompano and keeper sheepshead. We released smaller sheepshead.

Saturday, I finally got a little way offshore for the first time since the winds started blowing a week ago. I fished in 35 feet out of New Pass with Scott and Tina Fandrich and Dr. Omar Benitez. We caught keeper mangrove and lane snapper, triggerfish and grunts, and released a small goliath grouper and fifteen bluefish.”

11-27-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “Monday brought cold temperatures and high seas. My anglers bundled up and we fished the bay, since the 8-12 foot seas expected through mid week will keep everyone close to shore. Bill and Nancy Stephens fished with me on an incoming tide in Estero Bay, along the channel toward Wiggins Pass. Using live shrimp, we caught a keeper sheepshead, five keeper mangrove snapper, and almost had a nice trout about 16 inches long, but it got away before it was boated. We released a short redfish along with some smaller sheepshead.

Tuesday and Wednesday both were extremely cold and small craft advisories remained in effect, preventing offshore trips. Although a few of my anglers would have braved the cold to fish bayside, low tides in Estero Bay made for less than ideal fishing conditions, and after advising them about those conditions, they opted to wait for a better time. Thursday, I sacrificed fishing in favor of turkey with my family, and I returned to a calmer Gulf on Friday, when I fished with Jim Holmes and his sons, Josh and Jeff. We had planned a full day offshore, but with the wind still pretty stiff, decided that conditions might still be too rough in the Gulf, so we opted to fish Estero Bay until the tide died, and got the best part of the day in, fishing oyster bars and holes up toward Wiggins Pass. We caught a keeper redfish at 20 inches, and released two shorter ones, a keeper 14 inch mangrove snapper, and a keeper 14 inch sheepshead. We released a lot of small sheepshead.

Saturday, Bill & Terry Major, their son Bill and his wife Antoinette fished Estero Bay with me on a windy morning with a low tide. Despite less than ideal conditions, the group had a lot of fun and a lot of bites on live shrimp. We caught two keeper sheepshead, 14-15 inches, and a keeper mangrove snapper. We released lots of smaller sheepshead.”

11-20-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “More winds, seas, and rain came our way this week, with rough conditions offshore most of the week, and some pretty low tides in Estero Bay. I finally got one of my postponed offshore trips out on Saturday. Even then, the predicted 2-3 foot seas were actually 3-5 foot seas most of the day. I fished with father and son anglers James and Jonathan Ozark, in 35 feet out of New Pass. We caught lots of Spanish mackerel, and kept twenty of those in the 24-25 inch range. We also caught eight keeper mangrove snapper to 15 inches, triggerfish to 14 inches, and porkfish. We released hundreds of ladyfish. We caught most everything on live shrimp, but one of the mangrove snapper we reeled in spit up a ten inch eel, which we then used as bait, and caught three additional keeper snapper on that one eel!

With the holiday this week, the fishing schedule is full with folks hoping to make fishing a part of their Thanksgiving celebrations. Unfortunately, Mother Nature might have other ideas, with another strong cold-front predicted early in the week. But, we’ll hope for the best, and get out when we can.”

11-13-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, “The winds blew hard all weekend, and subsided only slightly on Monday. Harry Stephenson and son, Mark, braved the 20 knot wind and seas of 3-4 feet to fish the reefs off Bonita Beach with me on Monday. We caught keeper lane snapper and triggerfish, and released three small goliath grouper, a 23 inch Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and hundreds of baby gag grouper, fishing with live shrimp.

Tuesday brought rain and another windy front that kicked up seas for a few more days. I finally got back offshore on Friday, with Bruce Fields, son Jeff Fields, and friend Charlie Jones. We fished in 40 feet out of New Pass with live shrimp. We almost caught a keeper red grouper, as we released them to 19 inches. I hope that is a good sign for upcoming grouper fishing. We also caught Spanish mackerel to 23 inches, keeper lane snapper, mangrove snapper, triggerfish, porkfish, and whitebone porgies. We released a small goliath grouper.

Saturday, I fished Estero Bay on a catch-and-release trip with Tom Kovacs and friend, Mark. We fished potholes and oyster bars from Wiggins Pass to New Pass, on an outgoing tide, with live shrimp and artificials. The shrimp out-performed the artificials, and we released small redfish, snook, sand bream, mangrove snapper, and sheepshead.”

11-4-06

Fishing Report

Fishbuster Charters’ Captain Dave Hanson reported, Winds and seas got in the way of a few fishing excursions this week, but I managed to get offshore once. I took Wendy Woodall and Bob Baker on a combined sight-seeing and catch-and-release fishing trip on Thursday. At the reefs off Bonita beach, we released triggerfish, mangrove snapper and a couple of small goliath groupers, all on live shrimp.”