Ran to the ship anchorage Friday after the rain and the water was beautiful and clear. Seas less than 1ft and 5s period at least. Trolled ribbons and tore up the kings. Kept two for the box. Saturday morning ran to the first couple rigs just SE of Port A looking for some snaps and there were 3-4 boats tied to each so a couple drifts with no luck at each. Enjoyed watching the rain and water spouts to the South. I have no idea where to go for any reef numbers so just looked on TPWD for Artie reefs and saw Boatman and Lonestar. Took a bit to find one tiny piece of structure at Boatmans, caught a small snapper there and then a bunch of hard heads. There is very little structure left in that quadrant as we crisscrossed looking for the reef. Found one little blip. Decided to run out to Lonestar, same issue except we didn't see any structure at all anywhere in the area. Guess time and silt taken them over. Is there a book like Riks old book that had coordinates for state water snapper structure? There is really nothing online that I can find and it is a pretty big area to troll looking at my bottom finder, bit I did that about half the day hoping I'd get lucky!

See if this TPWD link works.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/gis/ris/artificialreefs/

It does, that is where I got the Boatmans and Lonestar numbers from. I think most of those artificial reefs are long gone.

I've only ever done it once but trolling ribbons for kings is a blast. I ran my kayak about two miles offshore from Bob Hall Pier and caught two kings and a small shark. Hell of a paddle. Don't do it without a group of experienced folks.

It. Is. Awesome.

Hopefully you weren't one of the two kayakers that the coasties were talking about on 16 that we're lost 5 mi off Bob Hall Pier in that rainy mess on Saturday were ya?? Luckily after about an hour a Good Samaritan picked'em up.

Reel Aggies said:

---

Hopefully you weren't one of the two kayakers that the coasties were talking about on 16 that we're lost 5 mi off Bob Hall Pier in that rainy mess on Saturday were ya?? Luckily after about an hour a Good Samaritan picked'em up.

---

Fortunately, no. Unfortunately, I haven't been down there in too long.

Kings are good catching but god awful eating.

They're better eating than that, or you're a terrible cook. But they aren't prime table either. Damn sure fun fishing!

Rik made a state water book. I think there are quite a few numbers for down around Port A.
https://www.redsnapperfishing.com/product/rik-jacobsens-texas-state-waters-and-a-bit-beyond/

Another option is Hilton. I'm not sure how many state water numbers they have though.

Ragoo said:

---

Kings are good catching but god awful eating.

---

We call them mercury missles

NM

I will slice thin and fry and it tastes just fine. Better yet though, on a wood coal grill, place in a pan with butter, chopped japs, and old bay seasoning. Almost like a confit. You try that and you'll keep one for the box. I will also smoke and place in a dip with cream cheese, japs, chopped red onion, and spices. Awesome.


As for Riks book, I bought a copy about 10 years ago and lost it. Tore up the house yesterday looking for it. Not sure if anyone is keeping up with it. I believe he passed a few years ago?? I know before he was constantly updating the numbers as they moved/changed.

You know you can tail land kings and smacks super easy. It's like a built in handle, and WAY less bloody.

Ragoo said:

---

Kings are good catching but god awful eating.

---

I agree!!

normaleagle05 said:

---

They're better eating than that, or you're a terrible cook. But they aren't prime table either. Damn sure fun fishing!

---

i probably am a terrible cook, point being though, there are a dozen other fish species I'd rather toss into the cooler for a meal than a kingfish. I just assume feel the rip of the drag, fight one or two back to the boat then target a more succulent species. Or head to whataburger.

They can be cooked well, but you have to do it while they are fresh and do quite a bit of prepping.

You can catch snapper. Big snapper down by ingelside. Trout fish in the morning and snapper by 10am. They're around the concrete blocks across from the old navy base. I'll get in trouble for posting this lol

Are you talking mangroves?

No, red snapper. No idea why they are there. I think there's just so many they have moved inland.

Think about it. It's 60 feet deep right there. Structure. Water flow. It's not that deep at the standpipes. They are on the ingleside side too. Sometimes you can't get close because they are working (docked).

They've been there a long time. I'll get they are all over the fina docks. Never tried that. I know there's big redfish there all year , but I've never caught a snapper there. Haven't fished there in years though

Any rig offshore has them too. When it's calm the little boats cover them up though.

I've caught them off the jetties too (from a boat) They are everywhere. Those limits have increased the population immensely.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Not saying you're wrong, but I've never heard this.

Well. We've kept it quiet, Lol

Those big drum are there in February/march.
We found them fishing for those years ago.

I don't think enough people on here will ruin it. Hope not.

I'm assuming the blocks you are talking about are submerged, so your secret is prob still safe. I fished through that area couple weeks ago and wasn't looking for blocks, but don't remember any. That area gets plenty rough if the wind isn't just right!

Bandera Brent, is that you?

Yep you read Corpus Fishing too. Been on there for years although it's not a very fast mover.

I posted up a couple of reports on there with pics of redfish last week.

Quote:

---

http://www.hiltonsoffshore.com/AtlasPage.htm

---

Do y'all know if they still have the lights on over that small set of jetty rocks that are between AP and Ingleside on the shore side, where they were building offshore platforms years ago? A few channels converge there, and we used to do real well at night under those lights. I think this was just south of the area labelled redfish cove on google maps.

I would like to hit those lights again soon one evening, as we have lots of fond memories there.

I honestly don't know. Haven't fished at night in a long time.

Actually closer to Packery Channel, we have done ok there on snapper...

Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (MU802)
COE Permit: SWG-1991-01749
COE Expiration: 12/31/2018
Water Depth (ft): 110
Depth to Structure (ft): 80
Distance from Port (nm): 18.15
Port: Port Aransas
Latitude: 27.569759
Longitude: -96.858589
Record ID: 50

As far as Kingfish for table fair, used to think the same until I tried it smoked! There is a reason they were called "Smoker Kings"
Try this for smoking: 1 part salt, 2 parts sugar, 4 parts water, half a bottle of terriaki sauce.... brine in this for 2 hours, smoke for a few hours at 225 f till done....

then this dip, or just make like a tuna fish salad out of it..... it is delicious! The smoking dries out the fattiness!
https://binged.it/2m9DOoM

FishingAggie said:

---

No, red snapper. No idea why they are there. I think there's just so many they have moved inland.

Think about it. It's 60 feet deep right there. Structure. Water flow. It's not that deep at the standpipes. They are on the ingleside side too. Sometimes you can't get close because they are working (docked).

They've been there a long time. I'll get they are all over the fina docks. Never tried that. I know there's big redfish there all year , but I've never caught a snapper there. Haven't fished there in years though

Any rig offshore has them too. When it's calm the little boats cover them up though.

I've caught them off the jetties too (from a boat) They are everywhere. Those limits have increased the population immensely.

---

DUDE, WTH? why post this? very few know about this! NOW, watch I will show up next weekend that its to rough to make it offshore and there will be 20 boats there. Thanks

If you thought smoker king was a term related to actually smoking kingfish....

I'm not too worried about it

Edit.

Knowing where a place is and knowing how to fish it are two different things. There could be 50 boats there and they'll watch others catch all the fish.

You spend all your time on the classifieds board selling....

Don't see how you have time to fish much.

I spend too much time selling? WTF you talking about? I have sold 1 gun, and 1 boat. The fact that you know I listed things for sale makes me believe YOU spend to much time on classifieds.... The only reason I posted on here was because a buddy tagged me on it through email... because he knew I could help with both how to cook kingfish and the state water snapper.

And you implication about "thought" smoker king meant..... well sir, you can KMA!

redsnapper101 said:

---

I spend too much time selling? WTF you talking about? I have sold 1 gun, and 1 boat. The fact that you know I listed things for sale makes me believe YOU spend to much time on classifieds.... The only reason I posted on here was because a buddy tagged me on it through email... because he knew I could help with both how to cook kingfish and the state water snapper.

And you implication about "thought" smoker king meant..... well sir, you can KMA!

---

A third of your posts are on classifieds. That's why I mentioned that.

You made the remark about smoker kingfish....

A smoker is in reference to the size of the fish, not the ability to smoke it. Sounded like you meant the latter

Then you get on here all upset over giving up a fishing spot to other Aggies?? Really.

I don't know you, but I know who fishes around there. It ain't you.

If you're a good fisherman you wouldn't care if someone got "your spot". Unless you only have one...

Don't know you either.... don't care to! Arrogance abounds from your post.