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.
