Slow go, but going

The fish were a little slow coming to the docks Monday, but the ones that did were good.

Arkansas and Texas anglers on the Lucky Lina with Capt. Steve Lathi pulled in four king mackerel and a couple of Spanish mackerel.

“Let ’em know those fish are fine,” said one of the ladies as she got off the boat.

And they did look just fine hanging on the rack.

___

For more photos, click here

___

Capt. Tommy Browning on the Finest Kind took a group of youngsters out on a four-hour trip and reeled in some big red snapper, which of course had to go back due to regulations. They also reeled in several amberjack that were too small as well as triggerfish.

“We wore ’em out,” Capt. Browning said. “They just want to catch fish.” In addition to the ones they had to throw back, they did manage to pull in a few white snapper to keep.

Capt. Brant Kelly on the Relentless pulled in a few white snapper and triggerfish on a four-hour trip.

While walking the docks, I ran into Capt. John Tenore who had the Dawn Patrol out of the water and doing a little maintenance on the boat. He soon reminded me that today is “Day 14” since the guys were deactivated from the Vessels of Opportunity program, in which they were to be put into a 14 day rotation.

“Nobody’s phone rang that I know of,” said Capt. Tenore. “But I’m just thankful for the time I had in the program.”

Kentucky anglers on the Just B Cause with Capt. Ken Bolden reeled in a king mackerel, grouper, triggerfish and white snapper.

“We had a quite a few red snapper that had to go back,” Capt. Bolden said. “And a bunch of little grouper which is a good sign. It says they are here. Everything is getting back to normal.

Memphis anglers on the Silver King with Capt. Mike Parker hauled in five grouper and a king mackerel.

A group of Texas youngsters on the Sea Winder with Capt. Stan Phillips pulled in a pair of grouper.

“The king mackerel were a little slow,” Phillips said. “We had several throw back snapper. We kept busy and everybody had a good time.”

Although the king mackerel bite was slow for some, Capt. Craig Mann on the Gulf Winds hit it just right for at least an hour. They reeled in three-and-a-half king mackerel.

“It was about 10-yards behind the boat and a porpoise rolled up on it, then a shark took it from him. I was yelling — reel, reel, reel,” Capt. Mann said.

The Houston anglers caught the king right at the sea buoy.

“We lost about three more,” to porpoise, he said.

One of the king mackerel was much bigger than the others, and Capt. Mann and the group were guessing the weight before he put it on the scales. I threw in my two cents and guessed right on the dot. The king tilted the scales at 23 pounds.

“The mackerel hit hard for an hour, then it was like somebody flipped a switch,” and they quit biting,” Mann said.

Arkansas anglers on the Huntress with Capt. Mike Graef found the king mackerel. They had four on the racks, along with two big triggerfish, mingo and white snapper.

Capt. Ed Shields backed in on the Silver Lining with a couple of grouper and a lane snapper. “The red snapper were fierce,” said Capt. Shields.

Texas anglers on the Gentle Winds with Capt. Greg Marler filled the boards with red grouper, triggerfish, white snapper and mingo.

“Fishing is fine,” Capt. Marler said.

He appears to be right. Fishing is fine. Just need more customers.

See you at the docks.