I spoke with Ken at Master Bait & Tackle in Bonita Springs this morning. He tells me that"Fishing is as good as it has ever been!". A 62lb cobia was caught about 5 miles offshore yesterday. Look for the cobia along with goliath grouper,BIG permit, and an ocasional kingfish around the artifical reefs, sunken barges, and the sunken crane of the offshore waters. Pinfish, whitebait, greenbacks, threadfins, or whatever type of baitfish is swiming in the area you are fishing will be good baits. Big spanish mackerel are on the reefs and wrecks, near shore, around passes and in the bays. Small silver spoons, Got-Cha Plugs, and smaller bait fish are all good baits. Mangrove snapper are all over the place! Sea walls, rock piles, bridges, docks, piers, and mangrove shorelines are all holding lots of snapper in the 4lb - 5lb range. Live shrimp, pinfish, and smaller baitfish are all good baits. Snook season is closed and all snook caught must be released alive, **Mote Marine, PLEASE TAKE NOTE!**, but there is great catch and release snook fishing on the beach and in area passes. Pinfish, whitebaits, and greenbacks, fished where the waves are breaking on the beach early in the morning, or around structure in and near a pass at night, will catch lots of snook right now. These same night time spots are also great places for a Zara Spook or other top water plug that you can "walk the dog" with. Tarpon have migrated past the south west gulf coast and only a few straglers can be caught. For more information contact;
Master Bait & Tackle
239-992-2553
4465 Bonita Beach Rd
Bonita Springs, FL
