Temps and fishing are red hot

It's hard to tell which has been hotter this week — the 90 degree temperatures or the red-hot fishing.

Most anglers on the docks would probably say both.

"It's been good weather and good fishing," the last couple of days, said Capt. Stan Phillips of the Sea Winder Thursday afternoon as he stepped off the boat.

And the proof was in the sun above and the fish on the racks. His group of anglers from St. Louis, Mo., hauled in a king mackerel, lane snapper, black snapper and a limit of red snapper.

Ohio anglers on the Windwalker II with Capt. Bernie LeFebvre loaded the racks with red snapper and black snapper.

Capt. Jason Mikel backed in on the Backlash Thursday with a limit of red snapper and a few bonito, while the Silver Hook with Capt. Caleb Brown had red snapper and king mackerel on the boards.

Right around noon Capt. Robert Hill on the Twilight and his group from Kentucky came in with a limit of red snapper, one barracuda and a king mackerel.

Capt. Brad Biggers and his group on the Mother Lode filled the racks with some big red snapper and a couple of king mackerel.

"Fishing is good," Biggers said.

Capt. Justin Destin on the Full Draw was a little bit more descriptive of the day.

"We were turnin' and burnin'," Destin said. He and his group filled the racks with red and black snapper. And he was looking to head back out for an afternoon trip.

Kentucky and Tennessee anglers on the Strike Zone with Capt. Phil Hessinius limited out on red snapper. They also had a lane snapper on the racks. A lane snapper looks a lot like a red snapper, except it has yellow stripes.

Capt. Hessinius said fishing was good, but "the current was running today."

Tennessee anglers on the Shamrock II with Capt. Eddie Dykes reeled in a limit of red snapper and a pair of king mackerel, while the Tennessee group on the 100 Proof with Capt. Steve Brown got their share of red snapper and had one red grouper.

Capt. Curt Gwin and his group from Tennessee and Alabama aboard the Only Way filled the racks with red snapper, red grouper and scamp. The Fish-N-Fool had a limit of red snapper as did Capt. Trey Windes on the Outta Line.

Wednesday was just as hot and heavy on the docks with catches coming in left and right.

The Anticipation with Capt. Earl Whitfield backed in with a limit of red snapper and a wahoo. It was a first time outing for the Larrison's from Hot Springs, Ark.

Texas anglers on the Silver King with Capt. Mike Parker reeled in a limit of red snapper and a couple of bonito, while Illinois anglers on the Silver Hook hooked up with a limit of snapper and a lane to boot.

David Jennings on the Lucky Lina was proud of his red snapper he caught with Capt. Steve Lathi.

Capt. Phil Hessinius on the Strike Zone came in with plenty of red snapper and a lane snapper. He said they caught them all within 10 miles of Destin.

Capt. Bill Williams and his group from Kentucky and Illinois on the Miss Hazel filled the racks with a limit of red snapper and one king mackerel.

"It was beautiful out today," said Capt. Judah Barbee as he stepped off the Daybreak. "The bite was a little slow, but we scratched around."

Fishing didn't look to slow, as the rack behind the Daybreak was full of red snapper, white snapper, amberine, king mackerel and one Spanish mackerel.

Capt. Ricky Hayles at the helm of the One Mo'r and his group from Arkansas reeled in a limit of red snapper. "We hit a school of them today," one of the anglers yelled off the back of the boat.

Mississippi anglers on the Dawn Patrol with Capt. John Tenore caught a limit of red snapper and one lane. Captain said they were using cigar minnows for bait.

Capt. Ed Shields and the crew on the Silver Lining brought in a limit of red snapper, one barracuda and a small cobia.

Capt. Scott Robson on the Phoenixhad a limit of red snapper as well as Capt. Andy Vaughn on the Special K.

The Just B Cause came in with red snapper and Capt. George Eller on the Checkmate 2 had a limit of red snapper and one wahoo.

The Extasea and No Alibi came in with their share of red snapper.

Texas and Arkansas anglers on the Vengeance with Capt. Jason Hallmark backed in with a limit of red snapper and a couple of king mackerel.

Nashville anglers on the Double Time with Capt. Tim Adams came in with red snapper and black snapper. But the fish they were most proud of was a small dolphin.

"It's not near as pretty as when it came out of the water," Greg Dew. "He had a lot more yellow and bright blue … it glowed."

The party boats were even getting in on the action. Capt. Cliff Cox on the Sweet Jody came in with several red snapper.

Darla Todd of Memphis, Tenn. was one proud angler as she held up her snapper for photos. "It was my first time on the Sweet Jody, but we'll be back."

The fishing is hot, so don't let the high temps keep you from hopping on a boat.

See you at the docks.