Fishing Reports by Captain Dave Hanson
About The Author: Captain
Company: Fish Buster Charters
Area Reporting: Bonita Beach
Bio: Captain Dave Hanson is a native of southwest Florida. He has been fishing local waters since childhood, and has been fishing professionally for over fifteen years. He is Coast Guard licensed, and is a member in good standing of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce. He has been featured in several national fishing magazines, and he also appears weekly in the fishing reports sections of the Bonita, Ft. Myers, Ft. Myers Beach, and Naples, FL newspapers.
239-947-1688
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain
Another tuna! Kingfish, shark, snapper, gag (5/05/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Caught a third blackfin tuna within a week--unusual for around here. Also got a kingfish or two, a 7' bull shark, grouper & snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Caught a third blackfin tuna within a week--unusual for around here. Also got a kingfish or two, a 7' bull shark, grouper & snapper.
Two 28 lb. blackfin tuna made my day! (4/28/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I never caught a tuna before, but this week we got two. Fishing was good all week, but Tuesday was the best!
[Bonita Beach,FL] I never caught a tuna before, but this week we got two. Fishing was good all week, but Tuesday was the best!
5' blacktip shark, lanes, mangs, yellowtail, red, sheepies: SW FL-Bonita Beach (4/21/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds have been relentless, but we managed a few offshore trips and a few bayside.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds have been relentless, but we managed a few offshore trips and a few bayside.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Near-shore Spanish, Pompano, Then The Seas (4/07/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Before the rough seas set in, pompano and Spanish mackerel were plentiful at the near-shore reefs this week.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Before the rough seas set in, pompano and Spanish mackerel were plentiful at the near-shore reefs this week.
2 little kings-waiting for big daddy-Spanish bite hot (3/31/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I finally found two small kingfish this week, but they were just a tease. I am hearing reports of some kings further out now. Meanwhile, the Spanish are everywhere.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I finally found two small kingfish this week, but they were just a tease. I am hearing reports of some kings further out now. Meanwhile, the Spanish are everywhere.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: snook, redfish, sheepshead, Spanish, goliaths (3/24/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] A couple of days mid week were blown out by weather, but the rest of the week was productive for sheepshead, mackerel, and a couple of snook and redfish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] A couple of days mid week were blown out by weather, but the rest of the week was productive for sheepshead, mackerel, and a couple of snook and redfish.
Sheepshead everywhere! Spanish too-where's the kings? (3/16/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Great sheepshead fishing this week, inside and offshore--also snapper, Spanish, redfish, snook
[Bonita Beach,FL] Great sheepshead fishing this week, inside and offshore--also snapper, Spanish, redfish, snook
Gulf & Bay Productive Fishing In Bonita Beach Area (3/10/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Large sheepshead were the best bet offshore, with smaller ones inshore, along with whiting and snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Large sheepshead were the best bet offshore, with smaller ones inshore, along with whiting and snapper.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Winter Sheephead Bite Strong (3/03/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The sheepshead were bigger and plentiful this week, with nice ones to 22 inches.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The sheepshead were bigger and plentiful this week, with nice ones to 22 inches.
30 Pound Plus Black Drum Caught (2/24/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good fishing this week, with a big black drum, bigger sheepshead moving in to the cool waters, snapper and trout.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good fishing this week, with a big black drum, bigger sheepshead moving in to the cool waters, snapper and trout.
Bonita beach, FL-Bluefish, sheepshead, trout, snapper (2/17/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds and seas kept me inshore this week, where we caught trout, bluefish, and sheepshead.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Winds and seas kept me inshore this week, where we caught trout, bluefish, and sheepshead.
Bay Was Good For Trout (2/10/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The bay was good for trout on a decent tide; offshore, the snapper bite slowed with the cold front.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The bay was good for trout on a decent tide; offshore, the snapper bite slowed with the cold front.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 26 inch gag grouper, 17 inch snappers, Spanish (2/02/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Cold fronts with high winds and seas made it tough this week, but on the good days, the grouper and snapper catches were nice.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Cold fronts with high winds and seas made it tough this week, but on the good days, the grouper and snapper catches were nice.
Gulf Snapper Fishing and Reds In The bay (1/27/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Nice gulf snapper to 17 inches this week,with reds in the bay, and sheepshead both gulf and bay. Saturday morning, 1/20, when I headed offshore with Chris & Yvette Worthington, their young sons Hunter and Peyton, and Yvette's parents, there were rough seas offshore that had not yet calmed to the two foot predicted. We stayed in close for a while in about 30 feet, and caught some keeper mangrove snapper...
[Bonita Beach,FL] Nice gulf snapper to 17 inches this week,with reds in the bay, and sheepshead both gulf and bay. Saturday morning, 1/20, when I headed offshore with Chris & Yvette Worthington, their young sons Hunter and Peyton, and Yvette's parents, there were rough seas offshore that had not yet calmed to the two foot predicted. We stayed in close for a while in about 30 feet, and caught some keeper mangrove snapper...
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Keeper Gag Grouper to 26 inches (1/19/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good fishing for grouper and snapper this week, when the seas allowed.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good fishing for grouper and snapper this week, when the seas allowed.
Bigger Mangrove Snapper (1/13/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] High seas cancelled out several trips this week, but the snapper bite was good about 28 miles out. Saturday, 1/6, 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.
[Bonita Beach,FL] High seas cancelled out several trips this week, but the snapper bite was good about 28 miles out. Saturday, 1/6, 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.
Good Size Mangrove Snapper In Cooler Gulf (1/05/2007)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good-sized mangrove snapper are moving into the cooler Gulf now. 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.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Good-sized mangrove snapper are moving into the cooler Gulf now. 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.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: gags bigger this week, snapper, sheepshead (12/30/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week for nice-sized mangrove snapper, and the grouper shorts are getting bigger, at least.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Fishing was good this week for nice-sized mangrove snapper, and the grouper shorts are getting bigger, at least.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: more hogs & sheep, snapper (12/23/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Hogfish, sheepshead and snapper predominated offshore this week, when it was calm enough to get out.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Hogfish, sheepshead and snapper predominated offshore this week, when it was calm enough to get out.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: 175 lb. goliath, gag, hogfish, snapper, sheepshead (12/16/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was good this week, with the first keeper gag grouper I have seen in a while. After a blustery weekend, that caused me to cancel my offshore trips, 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.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Offshore fishing was good this week, with the first keeper gag grouper I have seen in a while. After a blustery weekend, that caused me to cancel my offshore trips, 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.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: flounder, sheepies, reds, snappertriggers, goliath (12/08/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished inshore and offshore this week, with a good variety of catches before the cold front arrived.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished inshore and offshore this week, with a good variety of catches before the cold front arrived.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: pompano, sheepshead, snapper (12/02/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] One bay trip and one offshore trip yielded decent catches this week. 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.
[Bonita Beach,FL] One bay trip and one offshore trip yielded decent catches this week. 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.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: redfish, sheepshead, snapper, trout (11/25/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] With rough conditions offshore, I fished bayside this week, for redfish, sheepshead, snapper, and trout.
[Bonita Beach,FL] With rough conditions offshore, I fished bayside this week, for redfish, sheepshead, snapper, and trout.
4 Snapper Caught On One Eel! (11/18/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds howled and the seas built most of this week, but Saturday was good for lanes, mangrove snapper, and Spanish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] The winds howled and the seas built most of this week, but Saturday was good for lanes, mangrove snapper, and Spanish.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: snapper, goliaths, red grouper, Spanish (11/11/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice, when the winds and seas subsided, and once in the backwaters on an outgoing tide.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice, when the winds and seas subsided, and once in the backwaters on an outgoing tide.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: hogfish, yellowtail, scamp (10/27/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore this week, and had good success with a variety of species, on live bait.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore this week, and had good success with a variety of species, on live bait.
Snapper Bite Is Hottest Now In Bonita Beach SW FL (10/21/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice this week, and we got a variety of catches, but the snapper bite is the hottest right now. We fished with live shrimp in about 40 feet out of New Pass. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches, lane snapper to 12 inches, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, along with triggerfish, porkfish and porgies. We released red grouper shorts.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice this week, and we got a variety of catches, but the snapper bite is the hottest right now. We fished with live shrimp in about 40 feet out of New Pass. We caught keeper mangrove snapper to 13 inches, lane snapper to 12 inches, Spanish mackerel to 20 inches, along with triggerfish, porkfish and porgies. We released red grouper shorts.
Bonita Beach Out Of New Pass Fishing Report (10/14/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished both offshore and in the backwaters this week, and fishing was pretty good in both. Terry Mooney and friends fished with me Wednesday, in about 40 feet out of New Pass, using live shrimp. We caught five nice yellowtail snapper, four keeper lane snapper, several 25 inch Spanish mackerel, and some whitebone and jolthead porgies. We released everything except the snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished both offshore and in the backwaters this week, and fishing was pretty good in both. Terry Mooney and friends fished with me Wednesday, in about 40 feet out of New Pass, using live shrimp. We caught five nice yellowtail snapper, four keeper lane snapper, several 25 inch Spanish mackerel, and some whitebone and jolthead porgies. We released everything except the snapper.
Estero Bay-Bonita Beach: Keeper Reds, Sheepshead (10/07/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished the backwaters saturday, which were good for redfish. We fished the tree lines toward Wiggins Pass, on an outgoing tide, using live shrimp. We caught our limit of redfish, two at 23 inches each, and released two others that were just short of keeper size.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished the backwaters saturday, which were good for redfish. We fished the tree lines toward Wiggins Pass, on an outgoing tide, using live shrimp. We caught our limit of redfish, two at 23 inches each, and released two others that were just short of keeper size.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: Spanish & snapper (9/30/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I only got offshore once this week, but we caught a good variety of fish.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I only got offshore once this week, but we caught a good variety of fish.
Variety Of Sport Fish In Bonita Beach (9/16/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished twice inshore and twice offshore this week, with a good variety of sport fish and tablefare.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished twice inshore and twice offshore this week, with a good variety of sport fish and tablefare.
SW FL-Bonita Beach:Goliaths & mangs (9/08/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I only got out once this week, but it was good fro fun with goliaths, and some decent sized mangrove snapper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I only got out once this week, but it was good fro fun with goliaths, and some decent sized mangrove snapper.
Cobia, Spanish, Snapper, Offshore-reds, Sheepshead (9/02/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Got a couple trips in this week, before and after Tropical Storm Ernesto came through. Best catch was a 38 inch cobia, offshore about 30 miles.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Got a couple trips in this week, before and after Tropical Storm Ernesto came through. Best catch was a 38 inch cobia, offshore about 30 miles.
Nice Spanish, Snapper, Shark Bite In SW Florida (8/25/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice this week, caught some nice Spanish and snapper--had a close encounter with a bull shark!
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished offshore twice this week, caught some nice Spanish and snapper--had a close encounter with a bull shark!
SW FL-Bonita Beach:Bay & Near-Shore Fishing (8/18/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished once gulfside, and once bayside this week. we caught a good variety of fish, released most, and kept a few tasty ones.
[Bonita Beach,FL] I fished once gulfside, and once bayside this week. we caught a good variety of fish, released most, and kept a few tasty ones.
SW FL- Bonita Beach: Permit to 26 lbs,28 lb (8/11/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lots of variety this week offshore, including big permit and cobia, three varieties of snapper (hog, lane, mangrove, yellowtail), pompano, shark, grouper, file fish
[Bonita Beach,FL] Lots of variety this week offshore, including big permit and cobia, three varieties of snapper (hog, lane, mangrove, yellowtail), pompano, shark, grouper, file fish
SW FL - Bonita Beach Offshore: Spanish, mangs, lanes, moon fish (8/05/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Two trips out of New Pass this week yielded plenty of Spanish mackerel, lane and mangrove snapper, and a few moon fish, red grouper shorts, and baby goliath grouper.
[Bonita Beach,FL] Two trips out of New Pass this week yielded plenty of Spanish mackerel, lane and mangrove snapper, and a few moon fish, red grouper shorts, and baby goliath grouper.
SW FL-Bonita Beach: redfish, mackerel, lane snapper (7/29/2006)
[Bonita Beach,FL] Out a couple times this week, between rain storms--got lots of Spanish, some lanes, and a keeper red
[Bonita Beach,FL] Out a couple times this week, between rain storms--got lots of Spanish, some lanes, and a keeper red