FISH FLASH: Slow and hot at the fishing docks

Foot traffic along the docks has slowed down, but that doesn't mean the fish bite is not red hot.

As a matter of fact, the boats that did have fishing trips brought in some mighty fine catches.

Anglers on the First Light with Capt. Steve Haeusler filled the racks with king mackerel along with a few mingo and white snapper.

Capt. John Gibson on the Gulf Breeze had a boat full of folks. He took 35 people out on Wednesday and they brought back several baskets filled with mingo and white snapper.

"We fattened up a lot of dolphins too," Capt. Gibson said, noting the dolphin stole several of their fish.

The Anastasia with Capt. Tony Davis at the helm came in from a five-hour trip with what looked like a 10-hour catch. The group filled the racks with amberine, black snapper, several bull mingo, blackfin tuna and a king mackerel.

Capt. David Nettles on the Gulf Ranger came in Wednesday with four amberjack.

Remember the harvest of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico will be closed at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 25 and remain closed until Jan. 1, 2015.

Capt. Kyle Lowe on the Special K came in from a four-hour trip with a catch of king mackerel.

Texas anglers on the Screamn Drag with Capt. Bryan Kelley came in after lunch Wednesday with enough for dinner. They had four king mackerel, four black snapper and several mingo.

King mackerel was the catch of the day aboard the Al-Le with Capt. Paul Cox.

Capt. Ben O'Connor and friends on the 100 Proof went shark fishing. They hooked and released four tiger shark, plus saw two really big ones behind the boat that they couldn't get to eat. However, they did bring back enough for dinner. They had a Spanish mackerel, black snapper and a few mingo and white snapper to put on the plate.

Capt. Reid Phillips on the party boat Destin Princess took 28 people out and brought in a gag grouper and 40 head of red snapper. The Destin Princess is part of pilot program that has an allotted number of red snapper tags.

The New Florida Girl's American Spirit with Capt. Jim Green at the helm pulled in several stringers filled with bull mingo and white snapper.

Capt. Mike Graef and his crew from Louisiana on the Huntress came in from four-hour trip Wednesday with 10 king mackerel.

Texas anglers on the Seahorse with Capt. Dean Cox came in Thursday afternoon with a couple of amberjack, an Almaco Jack, king mackerel and a few mingo.

Tennessee anglers on the First Light Thursday pulled in three amberjack, a gag grouper and several mingo and white snapper.

The Brashear's and family and crew on the Lady Em with Capt. Mike Eller had a big day on the Gulf Thursday. They pulled in three amberjack, several amberine, king mackerel, some big mingo and great white snapper.

Fishing conditions may be a bit hot, but so is the bite.

See you at the docks.