Good Time Charters

Capt. Mike of Good Time Charters reports another great week of trout fishing in Estero Bay.  The sea trout were found along the edges of oyster bars and points of mangrove islands with good water movement,  using jig heads tipped with live shrimp.  The jig heads proved effective bounced along the bottom and/or floated below a popping cork.  Redfish and sheepshead were abundant in the same areas using little to no action.  Often times just a chunk of shrimp on a jig head was enough to hook the sheepshead, notorious for stealing bait.  Best advice for the sheepshead is patience and a tight line, especially on these windy winter days.  Remember keeping your rod tip low and your line submerged in windy conditions will greatly increase your sensitivity and better your chance of a solid hook up.

Capt. Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters reports an exceptional week in Estero Bay.  The spotted sea trout were on fire.  Catching these weak mouth delights require a little finesse.  Capt. mikes charters found the Jig heads tipped with live shrimp to work great especially when bounced along the bottom or floated with a popping cork.  On colder mornings try bouncing the bait along the bottom as the fish tend to be feeding lower in the warmer water.  When not targeting trout, sheepshead and lots of undersized reds were caught letting the bait lay on the bottom along oyster bars and mangrove islands with some depth and strong presense of shell fish.   For the sheepshead, the jig heads with a thin hook is recommended tipped with just a piece of shrimp in order to hook these notorious bait stealers.

Red fish and spotted sea trout has been biting here great lately and they are hungry. These are photos of some of our regulars that fish with us often. Great people and great fishing fun. December has brought us weekly cold fronts and the fish have been biting like crazy in between the fronts, with many slot reds. Trout are out of season until January here but are still fun to catch.

Fishing has been great here in Estero Bay, Fort Myers beach. Capts Mike and Cristina didn’t have any charters the other day so they took themselves out fishing for a little catch and release fun. They pulled in a redfish on nearly every cast. A few sheepshead made an appearance as well. They were using jig heads baited with live shrimp and a little finesse. They really do love being out on the water, even on their day off.

Capt. Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters reports a great red fish bite in Estero Bay.  Using jig heads tipped with live shrimp along the mangroves proved most successful.  Most of the reds caught were undersize but there were lots of em and they’re hungry!  Mixed in with the shorts were some slot fish as well a couple over sized.  Along with red fish,  the sheepshead are starting to pick up as the water temp. begins to cool.  Those sheepshead that were quick enough to beat a red fish to the shrimp were decent size all 12″ plus.  Casting just out from the trees in slightly deeper water found plenty of trout and an occasional flounder.  Lots of great action in Estero Bay this past week especially on the strong tides and in areas of decent water clarity.

The Redfish bite is ON! Lots of great fishing action. These pics are from recent charters, one is of Philip with family from Germany. It was their first time out with Capt Mike and they really enjoyed their fishing charter with us. Shelly, in the other pic, along with her family are regulars of Capt Mike. Fishing Ft Myers Beach.

Capt. Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters reports a great week fishing in Estero Bay and its adjoining passes this past week. Casting Live shrimp with no more than an eighth ounce of weight around the mangroves has produced lots of mangrove snapper as well as red fish. Moving water and adequate water depth are key. The Reds have been found most active around the top of the tide around the trees and into the shade as the day warms up. Also around the top of the tide Capt. Mike has found lots of action on the grass beds. Fishing live shrimp under a popping cork in 3 to 5 feet of water over grass brought in lots of spotted sea trout and occasional pompano and bonnet head sharks. Drifting the passes early in the day found a nice mix of snapper, trout, mackeral, and grunts. All of these were caught using 8th ounce jig heads bounced along the bottom.

Here’s Johnathon, from Denmark, showing off this great spotted seatrout that he reeled in. What a great family and fishing trip this was. Family fun fishing with Capt Mike is always a good time.

Capt. Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters reports that the spanish mackeral have moved in just in time to replace the departing sheepshead following a great spawn this year.  Spanish mackeral are a blast on light tackle and are great eating.  The mackeral have been hitting on the moving tide in or out.  Mike’s charters found jig heads tipped with shrimp to work great, just be sure to not give them to much time before setting the hook as they will cut through most leader with ease.   The mackeral have been ranging from all sizes and mixed in are pompano, blue fish, bonnet heads, and black tip sharks.  Needless to say lots of great action following this warmer weather.  In Estero Bay around the mangroves and oyster bars still finding sheepshead of decent size and red fish are becomming a lot more active with a couple oversized fish being released this past week. As for some unexpected surprises, several flounder were caught some in the passes and others in the back bay, caught wile dragging jig heads tipped with shrimp along the bottom.  A few mangrove snappers have also been caught in the bay this week and those numbers should sky rocket if the weather continues on this track.

Captain Mike Denegre of Good Time Charters reports the sheepshead spawn is on!   This past week captain Mike’s charters roped in loads of sheepshead in the 4 to 5 pound range.  All the fish were caught on small to medium live shrimp around oyster bars and the base of mangrove islands in areas of 3 to 4 feet deep.   Mixed in with the sheepshead were red fish and an occasional snook,  the better catches of the week being a nice 31 inch red caught using live shrimp on a jig head deep under the mangroves in good current.  When captain Mikes charters got tired of beating on the sheepshead it was to the trout holes where there was lots of action between slot trout and more ladyfish than you could shake a stick at.  The trout were found around the mangroves in areas of good current, picking up jigheads tipped with live shrimp.  For the trout and ladyfish bouncing the bait on the bottom or floating under a cork proved sufficient.  Several pompano and spanish mackeral were caught as well this past week in the back bay, an encouraging look at what may be ahead with this warmer weather.