SW FL-Bonita Beach: hot king mackerel bite

[fishbuster]

Christmas-eve morning, 12/24, and Saturday, 12/29, I fished inshore, but the rest of the week was spent in the Gulf.

Wednesday, Dr. Boyd Bowden, daughters Emily and Erin, and friend Ron Baldwin fished with me in 35 feet out of New Pass. We caught three keeper mangrove snapper, all about 14 inches, a 15 inch flounder, a 13 inch triggerfish, a 25 inch Spanish mackerel and some whitebone porgies. We released lots of grouper shorts to 18 inches.

On Thursday, I fished with Jerry and Andy Spetzler, Art Herman and friend, Ed, in 45 feet out of New Pass. We caught whitebone porgies, grunts, and released lots of red grouper to 19 ¾ inches, just a quarter inch shy of keeper-size, and lots of gag shorts. We also used a blue runner to hook an 80 pound goliath grouper, which was fun to fight and release.

Friday, in 31 feet out of New Pass I got into a strong king mackerel bite fishing with Terry Hopkins, Cody Hennessey, Brad Byk and his sons Ryan and Will Byk. We caught six kings to 30 pounds. We photographed the largest one and released it with all the others except for one 37 inch king (see photo). We also caught a keeper hogfish, several keeper mangrove snapper, a keeper sheepshead, triggerfish and porkfish. We caught everything on live shrimp except for the big mackerel: I saw that one jump so I threw a blue runner on a pole with 12 pound test and a piece of leader, and the mackerel struck that in about ten seconds.

I’m hoping the kings will still be waiting for me on Monday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

[EMTAE]

Nice report on the knigs.When do your ribbon fish show up and where are some good spot to get the ribbons?