Hey guys I know this should be in the kingfishing forum but that doesnt really get too much attention. I am trying to slowly make myself a little more comfortable offshore in my boat. I know my current capabilities and am trying to push them a little farther each trip. I know how to fish a spread for dolphin, wahoo, sails, etc. , but am wondering what the difference is for kingfishing. How would you fish for them in a center console w/o riggers. Whats your spread look like? Trolling speed? Will Ballyhoo & Skirts work? Any information is greatly appreciated
Ballyhoo work, but most people use live bait when specifically targeting kings. Big menhaden, large mullet, small spanish , ribbonfish if you can get them. Small skirts on wire. Lots of guys use those “king busters” sold in any local tackle shop. Slow troll over live bottom or reefs as slow as the boat will go. Stop every once and again to let the baits sink down in the water column for thirty seconds or so.
Charter boat fishing, we would usually troll with skirted ballyhoo until we found some fish. Sea Witches are cheap and work well, or the mylar duster type skirts. Once we found fish we would stop and either drift or slow troll live baits. Nothing beats a beeliner for live bait.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I had a 22 foot scout back when I used to kingfish. We would start the day behind Morris island looking for the pelicans diving to get fish. We would head over to that area and throw the cast net. Basically the menhaden are so thick there you can see their silver backs on the surface so that’s where you throw the net. Usually only takes one net full. In the live well they go and off to a place called the gardens or y-73 I think. Huge live bottom area out there. Basically we would take those inline sinkers 8 to 10 ounce and put them about 10 feet in front of this wire king mackerel rig that they sell at every wal mart. Has like mylar skirts and treble hooks on it. You hook the menhaden through the tail area and the lip area. Just put the boat in gear that’s your troll speed. Worked for me every time. I did not have outriggers so I would troll 3 to 4 lines. One way back center and usually one on each corner of the boat using the gunnel rod holders. Sometimes you could do 4 if the winds were calm. I also experimented with using clamp on rod holders on the T-Top to get the lines out away from the boat. That worked good and you could get 5 lines out but when a fish was on it was a little nerve racking getting the rod down.
Turns out I hate king fishing so I only did it a few times but hey I gave it a shot. Typical day for me on the kingfish was 6 to 8. Average fish was 30 pounds. Some smaller some bigger. I think the gardens coordinates are on a hot spot or maps unique but if you need the numbers pm me and I can look them up for ya.
Invest in a wire line rod!You will need 50-60 # Monel or stainless trolling wire with backing.,your tackle shop can set you up.you will need trolling leads of 16,24,32 oz.Attach a quality Snap swivel to the main wire line,hook a lead to the snap swivel then connect a “shock-cord” 25-40 ft long of 60#-80# mono with a 80-150# diamond ball bearing snap swivel at each end unless you are fishing strips.It is good to have a fishing yo-yo for the shock-cords.Attach one end of the shock cord to the lead and Hook your leader material to the other end of the swivel on the other end.You can use a Drone spoon with about 6 ft. of 80# mono but put a quality barrel swivel on the mono attached to the spoon.They catch a lot of kings.
You can fish strips,Bonito,Mullet on the one end of the shock cord slide a sea-witch pink,chartreuse-green,work well tie on a long shank extra strong double hook slap on a strip and your ready to go.
This is a Meat Rod and will catch fish when nothing else Does!!!
