Estero Bay Report

The summer heat is here and the fishing patterns have changed making early mornings best for a good bite. Spotted seatrout action is best over the grass flats in 3-5 feet of water near the passes. Good moving, cleaner water seems to be the ticket to finding and catching them. The passes have been good for ladyfish, seatrout, spanish mackerel, and jacks. Bouncing shrimp tipped jig heads or shrimp under popping corks works best. Save the ladyfish for cut bait and chunk them up on 2/0 circle hooks for reds around the oyster bars and mangrove islands on high water. The nearshore reefs are teaming with mackerel. Free lining shrimp or casting jig heads with a slow retrieve will get them feeding.