Fishbuster Charters' Captain Dave Hanson reported, "Mike and Kevin fished the bay with me again, joined by friend, Tom, on Monday, 2/15. Winds were picking up, in advance of a weather front expected to bring some rain, wind and rough seas for the next several days, and there were even whitecaps in the bay! The guys used live shrimp to release fifteen mangrove snapper shorts, along with three sheepshead to 14 inches.

Eight-year-old Mateo Wickus had an excellent time fishing with his dad, Wade Wickus, in southern Estero Bay on Wednesday morning, 2/17. Mateo caught and released a 24-inch redfish, as well as an 18-inch sheepshead, which he boxed. His dad caught a 19-inch sheepshead, also boxed. The father-son team released four short sheepshead, ten mangrove snapper shorts, and two pufferfish.


Long-time friends, the Heimrich family—Jeff and Beth and their children, Tanner and Maddie—fished Estero Bay’s southern backwaters with me on Tuesday morning, 2/23. They used live shrimp to tap into some good sheepshead action, and caught seventeen sheepshead, including six keepers ranging 13 inches to 18 inches. They released two crevalle jacks.

Steve and Carrie Butchart fished southern Estero Bay with me on Wednesday, 2/24, and used live shrimp to catch and release a 21-inch seatrout, and to box three keeper sheepshead to 16 inches, along with a 19-inch pompano.

Southern Estero Bay’s backwaters were not quite as productive on Friday, 2/26, when friends, Andrew Armato, Mario and Paul, fished using live shrimp. They caught seven sheepshead in all, but only one keeper at 14 inches, and they released two crevalle jacks and a couple of ladyfish."