OUTDOORS

It’s all bull and more

Tina Harbuck
tharbuck@thedestinlog.com

When it comes to fishing and fish tales, there’s a lot of “bull” that flies.

This week along the docks was no different. However, the bull this week was all about the bull mingo.

When the deckhands and captains refer to bull mingo it’s a big one — 3 pounds or better and most of the time a male.

Indiana anglers fishing aboard the Un Reel with Capt. Justin Destin and first mate Jan-Michael Garcia had several that would rate as bull mingo. Some of the mingo were most likely 3-pounds or better. In addition to the bull, they had a couple of Almaco Jack and white snapper.

Capt. Dennis Kendrick on the Destiny had a trip full of bull on Monday. Captain said they hauled in several that were 3 pounds or better along with a couple of cobia.

“Fishing is getting better the last couple of weeks,” Kendrick said.

Capt. Rusty Gilbert on the Mary Lou and crew came in on Tuesday with a couple of king mackerel, a black snapper along with a several mingo and white snapper.

Anglers fishing aboard the Scream’n Drag with Capt. Brian Kelly reeled in a pile of mingo and a cobia while on a six-hour bottom fishing trip Tuesday.

Mingo and white snapper were the catch of the day aboard the Al-Le with Capt. Paul Cox on Tuesday.

Capt. Cliff Cox and his group of 21 aboard the party boat Sweet Jody came in Tuesday with some bull on a string. His anglers filled up several stringers, with a few bull mingo in the mix.

“It was beautiful out there today,” Cox said. “The triggerfish was savage.”

The triggerfish fishery is currently closed, so all triggers had to be released.

Capt. Jim Green and his 40 folks aboard the party boat New Florida Girl’s American Spirit came in Wednesday with lots of red mingo and white snapper, with some of the mingo pushing the bull status.

Pensacola anglers fishing aboard the Al-Le with Capt. Cox on Wednesday had a few mingo, goggle eye and a northern mackerel. The group of anglers said they released a couple of amberjack that weighed about 25 to 30 pounds each, along with several triggerfish. Amberjack are also closed.

Georgia and Texas anglers on the 100 Proof with Capt. Ben O’Connor came in Wednesday afternoon with four big scamp, a couple of king mackerel, amberine and some big bull mingo. Captain said they caught all the scamp on the same spot using cigar minnows for bait. As for the big bull mingo, there were plenty of them … and that’s no bull.

See you at the docks.

• The vermilion snapper, similar to the red snapper in color, also goes by the name of mingo or beeliner.

• The bag limit for mingo is 10 per person and must measure 10 inches in length.

• The average size of a mingo is less than a pound. The  world record is 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

• Food quality is great.

FOR THE RECORD

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