Always have fished in the tournies on other boats and wanted to start going on my own this year fro kings. Got a couple of tld 20’s and was wondering when I sould start getting out there for the spring time kings. Whe does the nearshore fishig for them start heating up. When the larger menhadden move in? is that a good sign to start trolling and live bait fishing the nearshore reefs and outer jetties?
If I am not mistaken, I believe May is when they start running hard. No doubt it has to get a little warmer to direct your attention to them but that should be the time you go. You can try later this month once the water temp reaches closer to 80. I would troll in and out of the shipping channels with a larger vibration lure, between 8’ and 20’. You could probably get away with a rapala deep diver from walmart if you want to go cheap it will still work nicely.
30’ Trophy
“Grand Slam”
Thats why they call it “fishing” and not “catching”!
69 seems to be the lower threshhold for them. They are at the ledge now, should move into 100’-120’ soon
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Do they really prefer the water cooler to warmer? Ive always known to catch them in the hotter summer months inshore.
30’ Trophy
“Grand Slam”
Thats why they call it “fishing” and not “catching”!
I have found over the years that the magic temperature is 66 degrees. I have caught them in every month of the year off of Charleston and the lowest temperature has been 63 degrees. They are easy to pattern and Sellsfish is right, they are on the ledge now and will move in closer as the warmer water from Florida moves up and removes the wedge of colder water that is from the beach to about 100ft. right now. Live bait is by far the best method, but you can catch them trolling ballyhoo especially around the ledge in late April and May in good numbers.
Tight lines and good luck.
Robert Olsen