Fishbuster Charters' Captain Dave Hanson reported, "Sunday, 2/15, I headed 19 miles offshore with Alec Bayer, his uncle, Bob Snyder, Bob’s son, Zack Snyder, and friends, Buck Bachura and Cameron Kovach. Winds were calm at first, and seas nicer than they had been but, by late morning, conditions were getting a little sloppier, as winds again picked up speed. The guys used live shrimp to catch and release fifteen red grouper shorts to 18 inches, and two out-of-season triggerfish at 14 ½ and 15 ½ inches. They boxed a dozen keeper lane snapper to 15 inches and a half dozen grunts.
Angler Madeline Baumgartner with an 22-inch gag grouper, caught on shrimp and released, 26 miles west of New Pass on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter.
Monday, 2/16, I fished the backwaters of lower Hickory Bay with Patrick Gartland, his dad, Tom Gartland, and friend, Chris Ladtke. The guys used live shrimp to catch four nice sheepshead to 16 inches. They released four redfish shorts in the 17-to-18-inch range, along with a dozen mangrove snapper shorts and a 15-inch snook.
Angler Ruthie Tarnowski with a 15-inch lane snapper, caught on shrimp 22 miles on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter.
Tuesday, 2/17, high winds and seas prevented an offshore trip, and I fished the backwaters with Steve Fisher and Dale Neil. The spots that had been productive the previous day for large sheepshead were not as productive in terms of keeper-sized fish. The guys used live shrimp to catch and release two 17-inch redfish shorts, three sheepshead shorts, a puffer-fish and a stingray.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday brought more rough conditions, with small craft advisories and frigid temperatures. All three of those days' fishing trips were cancelled.
Saturday morning, 2/21, I fished in lower Hickory Bay, trying to fish on the best of the morning’s low tide. Joe Haberkorn and friends, Jerry and George, released nine ladyfish and a couple of three-pound stingray, caught on shrimp.