Master Bait & Tackle:
Estero Bay has been very good for large sheepshead in the six pound range. Rigs with two worms are your best bait. Offshore is excellent with large catches of grouper, snapper, and sheepshead on the nearshore rocks. Dean says, "Come in and pickup our world famous t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, and the coolie covers."
941-992-2553

Outdoor Resort - Chokoloskee: Kenny says, "Fishing is good, but you have to work at it." Snook have been scattered and mostly caught on plugs and jigs. Bad weather has made everything slow, but it'll get better. The resort has 283 RV sites and they do have March openings. It has a boat ramp and an eight room motel on the water. Call early for reservations.
941-695-2881

Cape Bait and Tackle: Eugene McDowell and his party of four caught 100 sea trout, eighteen of which were keepers in Pine Island Sound. Tom Kemper caught a 23 inch mangrove snapper on shrimp in the canal behind his house at night. Pat Moran got a 22 and 28 inch black drum in Bimini Basin on shrimp. Bob Romanski got jacks to 28 inches in Bimini Basin. There are huge jacks there, many ripping the hooks right out of the plugs. Snook are being caught at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Pier. Cape Bait and Tackle is an exclusive dealer for Ricky Rods and Key Largo Rods in the area.
941-549-3222

Chiquita Bait & Tackle: Carol welcomes new customers to the shop. They have fresh and saltwater baits, both live and frozen, shiners, ice, and drinks. trout are doing well on Love Lures - fluorescents seem to be best or shrimp under a popping cork. In the passes, especially Blind Pass, snook are being caught on YO-ZURI Crystal Minnows - redheads with white bodies. A recent customer brought in three snook on that bait in just an hour of fishing! Offshore grouper fishing is great if the weather will let you get out.
941-540-0052

Sunrise Bait and Tackle: Snook are at the Matlacha bridge in the 29 - 35 inch range being caught on artificial lures. Pompano and sheepshead to five pounds and some trout are being caught on the flats at Pine Island. Offshore fishing - grouper and snapper catches have been great if you can get there because of the wind. In the store, we have the new Penn Graphite reels. They work great and selling well and pick up some Eagle Claw needle point hooks.
941-540-4179

Hippies Bait & Tackle: John reports trout on the flats, snook at the Matlacha bridge and canals. Grouper are being caught on shrimp and pinfish in the passes. Pompano are abundant around the bridges and are being caught with shrimp.
941-283-2400

Seven Sea's Bait & Tackle: Located next to the Matlacha bridge, "the number one fishing bridge in the world." Jim reports that snook are being taken up to 20 pounds on shrimp and pinfish. Inshore snook is your best bet, while on the flats, trout can be had on greenbacks and jigs tipped with shrimp and shiners will work also. Offshore grouper is good along with snapper and a few cobia. Crab lines in the passes are catching triple-tail.
941-283-1674

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