Bonita Springs Fishing Charters & Guides

Fishing in Bonita Springs

Looking like a small torpedo, the grey shape nosed up to the side of the boat. The angler was ready to land this mystery fish. "Cobia! Scare it," the Bonita Springs fishing charter captain called down from the tuna tower. "What? Scare it?" questioned the angler, holding a standing fighting rig and wondering what the captain was talking about. "Gotta wear it out. Can't bring a cobia that big on the boat still fresh. It'll wreck everything," came the reply. The mate leaned over and slapped the water with a gaff. The cobia decided it had urgent business elsewhere and the big reel's drag started screaming. About 30 minutes later the 60-pounder was laying on the deck. The fisherman was seriously considering laying down the deck next to the fish. Big cobia are not long on smarts but they do pack plenty of muscle. That's why the fish will often hook up and come to the boat to see what is going on. It is vital, when this happens, to spook the fish and wear it out before trying to boat it. The cobia hit a lure trolled behind the boat as the captain was looking for mackerel. When fishing a Bonita Springs fishing charter out of the Estero Bay, you just never know exactly what you will catch, even when you target certain species. Get the current list of fish and seasons from the Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Bonita Springs Inshore Fishing

Inshore fishing out of Bonita Springs ranges from fair, depending on the species and the weather, to outstanding, again species and weather dependent. The top inshore fish are reds, speckled trout and Spanish mackerel. The mackerel are best found by trolling or watching for schools of baitfish at the surface. When the gulls start dive bombing, that's a good indicator pogey (baitfish) are under attack. When the captain spots this happening, it is time to rig up silver spoons, silver lures or jigs tipped with a cigar minnow and cast to the activity. It is common for everyone on the boat to have a fish on at the same time. Specks love to hang out on the edges where the water starts shallow and then has a sharp drop into relatively deeper water. The captain will probably sink an anchor pole into the bottom to hold the boat steady against the current. Shrimp under popping corks drifted through the opening, crankbaits and grubs rolled slowing through the water are great ways to hook a gator trout. Redfish also like these places. It is a lot more fun to find the big reds tailing over the oyster bars in Estero Bay. The challenge is to get close enough to cast to them without running them off the bar.

Bonita Springs Offshore Fishing

Looking to do some deep sea fishing? With one exception, see below, the biggest fish are found offshore. Heading into the blue water out of Bonita Springs you can expect to find king mackerel, wahoo, mahi mahi (also called dorado or dolphin), big sharks, big grouper and amberjacks. With lots of natural and artificial reefs in the deeper water, finding good places to drop a line is easy on a Bonita Springs Fishing Charter. The best part if when you settle over a reef and nothing is happening, your guide will head to the next honey hole to see who is home. Grouper get that name because they like to hang out together. Find one and it is a good bet more are down there too. But grouper fishing is a precision matter. You can literally drop a line on one side of the boat and never get a bite while the other side is busy trying to pull big copper bellies off the bottom. Live, cut and frozen baits are best when bottom fishing. If your back is strong enough, try dropping a giant jigging spoon down to the bottom on an Elec-Tra-Mate reel. Jig it all the way to the top letting the reel turn constantly. Fish sometimes chase the spoon all the way to the surface. You may think that the electric motor on the reel does all the work for you, at least until you try to haul a 60-pound amberjack out of 1,000+ feet of water.

Goliath Grouper in Estero Bay

Estero Bay also has lots of pilings and deep holes. This kind of structure and terrain are home to the goliath grouper, a fish that can weigh 500 pounds and is always hungry. Goliaths are also found on the many offshore reefs. These giants are strictly catch-and-release, but the video of your fight and that massive fish coming alongside the boat is a trophy you can share for years.

Book A Bonita Springs Fishing Charter

A Bonita Springs fishing charter is a great way to spend the day with your family or favorite fishing buddy. Select a professional and experienced Bonita Springs charter here.