King mackerel keeping anglers happy in Gulf

Jack Mackerel Kingfish are making their presence known in the inshore Gulf of Mexico off Siesta Key's Point of Rocks.In addition, kings are rated good out to 12 miles.Don't forget snook season closed Thursday and will reopen Sept. 1.The accompanying map is designed to help readers find out what fish are hitting where.1Jim Zacharias of the Dee-Jay II out of Parrot Cove Marina reported Spanish mackerel, cobia, bluefish and small grouper in the inshore Gulf of Mexico.Thom Smith of the Flats Lady out of Anglers Repair and Ted Sepe of Apollo Beach caught snook to 27 inches, redfish to 25 and spotted seatrout to 19 in whitebait and D.O.A. Shrimp around the mouth of the Little Manatee River and the outside flats.Ray Markham of the Flat Back out of Terra Ceia has been getting spotted seatrout off the deep grass off Emerson Point, along with black seabass, flounder, Spanish mackerel and small grouper.2Rick Kulalov and Clayton Kulalov of Chicago caught mangrove snapper to 14 inches on live shrimp in Big Pass with Jack Hartman of the Lucky Dawg.In addition, they caught snook to 27 inches and redfish to 24 in Roberts Bay, and Spanish mackerel, bluefish, spotted seatrout and flounder in Sarasota Bay at the Middlegrounds.Jack Sinton and Dave Duerson of Bend, Ore., caught spotted seatrout to 17 inches, Spanish mackerel and bluefish in Sarasota Bay at Bishop Point and Stephens Point with Rick Grassett of the Snook Fin-Addict out of C.B.'s Saltwater Outfitters.Betty Glockner and Mona Young caught a pair of bonefish to 18 inches on live shrimp around Bird Key, according to a report from Hart's Landing. Julie Morgan landed a permit at the Saprito Pier. Pier anglers are getting Spanish mackerel, pompano, flounder, whiting, small sharks and snook.Jim Mitchell of Longboat Key caught Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, spotted seatrout to 20 inches, bluefish, ladyfish and jack crevalle around Bird Key and the south end of Longboat Key with Jim Klopfer of Adventure Charters out of C.B.'s.Kingfish are cooperating from just off the beaches out to 12 miles in the Gulf of Mexico.3Fly angler John Burgess of Venice caught and released a 45-pound tarpon while fishing along Snook Alley at dusk, according to Nicole Coudal of the Dockside Store at Gulf Harbor Marina.Mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel and snook are cooperating in and around the Venice Inlet, according to a report from the North Jetty Fish Camp.4John Donohue of Venice said spotted seatrout, snook and redfish are hitting along the west side of Lemon Bay.5Tarpon flooded into the pass earlier in the week. Sharks are also available.6Fair redfish and spotted seatrout around the mouth of the river.7Decent bass and bluegill.8Fair bass, bluegill and shellcracker.9A few panfish cooperating in the river.10Those fishing around the 41 bridges between Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda are encountering whiting, snook, sharks and tarpon to 60 pounds.Spanish mackerel and tarpon are roaming the open harbor.