Fishingcast: Conditions for Bonita, Estero, April 29-May 5

BACKWATER

Fairly stable late spring conditions. Air warmth drives water temp, 76 -78. Moving to expected level. Winds to northwest briefly early week. Light damage to clarity. Tides retreat to moderate speed both ways. Tarpon action good Carlos Pass, channel first light on ebb tide with threads, pilchards post shower. Spec trout staying fairly active circa Mound Key bars, islands with drift working shrimp under popper over 4-6' seagrass bottom. Snook; mainly 19-22" showing in Bay outlets on stronger ebb tides. Work deep with pilchards, threads. Mangrove snapper action improving shoreline Estero edges. Redfish action slows as water temp accelerates. Best; cooler early a.m. east wall creek edges with free-lined shrimp tight to shallow overhangs.

NEARSHORE

Pelagics populating first reefs east edges MAY reef. Work with tipped jigs under chum; both tides. Snook action hot along beach edges circa New Pass; on pilchards.

OFFSHORE

Stable conditions as winds ease. Need at least 55-60' depth for decent keep to catch ratio on favorite red grouper. Set up and work west with pinfish drifted tight to hard bottom. Deep wrecks for good to excellent yellowtail snapper action. Work with tad of chum six-pound hook fed into strong chum slick in faster current.