Dealing with the three R's of fishing

When it comes to fishing there is more to deal with than just finding and pulling in a fish. Captains and anglers have to deal with rolling clouds, rain and rising temps.

And this week we've experienced all three, and more than once I might add.

At least a couple of times this week, the clouds have rolled across the bay and dropped rain on us here in Destin. And once the rain stops the temps start to rise making for a muggy humid afternoon.

The key is drink lots of water and keep a rain coat handy.

But it's all good and hasn't hampered the fishing.

Just after a deluge of rain Thursday morning, the Cutting Edge with Capt. Steve Webster  backed in with 15 king mackerel. Captain said they also fought with a 400-pound shark on a spinning rod that made for a good pull.

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THURSDAY, CLICK HERE.

Capt. Jason Steele on the Barracuda and his anglers reeled in a scamp, mingo, white snapper and a file fish. Steele said they also watched a 40-pound amberjack get eaten by a shark. “We saw the whole thing,” Steele said.

Don't forget amberjack season opens today, Aug. 1. The limit is one per person and they have to measure 30 inches to keep.

New Orleans anglers on the Finest Kind with Capt. Jason Mikel reeled in a big red grouper, mingo, white snapper and amberine on Thursday.

Anglers on the Backlash with Capt. Chris Kirby pulled in a mahi mahi along with about 30-head of mingo and white snapper.

Arkansas anglers on the Sea Fix with Capt. Phillip Blackburn filled the rack with mingo, white snapper and king mackerel.

A group from Texas on the Twilight with Capt. Robert Hill came in with scamp, mingo, Key West porgy and bonito.

Tennessee anglers on the Shamrock II with Capt. Eddie Dykes came in with a couple of mahi mahi to go along with their mingo and white snapper.

Jacob DeHardt of Kansas City, Mo. had the prize catch on the Dawn Patrol with Capt. John Tenore on Thursday. DeHardt reeled in a 28 ¾ inch Spanish mackerel. Captain said they caught it on a live herring while fishing in the bay. Although DeHardt had the largest, 12-year-old Will Schnelle pulled in the most. Word was, every time he dropped a bait in the water, it was fish on.

St. Louis, Mo. anglers on the SS Enterprise with Capt. Kirk Reynolds reeled in king mackerel, a couple of black snapper and mingo.

Capt. Billy Teems and crew on the Fish N Teem came in with a blackfin tuna, several amberine and six king mackerel on Thursday.

Atlanta, Tampa, Montgomery and Auburn anglers teamed up to bring in a big haul on the Huntress with Capt. Mike Graef on Thursday. They hauled in a huge gag grouper, a couple of scamp, nine king mackerel, barracuda, big mingo and bonito.

Not long after, the clouds started to roll in and then came the rain again.

Wednesday was a good day on the docks, but probably one of the hottest of the year with the temperature hitting 97 degrees, and that's not even counting the heat index which was well into the 100s.

FOR A LOOK AT WHAT HIT THE DOCKS WEDNESDAY, CLICK HERE.

But again fishing was good.

Missouri anglers on the Backdown 2 with Capt. Gary Jarvis put 20 king mackerel on the racks.

Anglers on the No Alibi with Capt. Chris Schofield pulled in king mackerel, mingo, mahi mahi and bonito, while the  Oklahoma anglers on the Un Reel with Capt. Paul Dale Wagner had mingo, white snapper and mahi mahi on the racks.

Louisiana anglers on the Full Draw with Capt. Justin Destin reeled in a couple of king mackerel, mingo and white snapper.

Capt. Allen Staples and his New Orleans anglers on the Al-Lin came in with mingo, white snapper, Key West  porgy and bonito.

Texas anglers on the Sweet William III with Capt. Bill Watson filled the nails  with mingo and rock salmon.

Missouri and Indiana anglers on the Realin Script with Capt. B.J. Teems had a huge haul of amberine on Wednesday. “They were everywhere,” captain said. They also had a snowy grouper on the nails, along with seven king mackerel, mingo and white snapper.

With the clouds starting to roll in, this reporter headed in for the day.

Fishing is good, but be prepared for the three Rs – rolling clouds, rain and rising temps.

See you at the docks.