The Shady Hole, The South Hole, The Shipping Channel, The Pillars, The Minefield, The Charleston 60, The Parking Lot, folks are currently hedging their bets as to where this years winning Kingfish will be caught in the Fishing for Miracles Tournament. Why are these spots so popular, in other words what makes them such good places to target Kingfish and what strategy should be used when determining where to target Kingfish?
If I had all the answers to these questions, I am sure I would have quit my full time job by now and would be fishing the entire SKA tournament circuit. Over the years through experience, videos, reading, and listening to other anglers I have picked up on a few key factors to help determine where to fish for Kings. Provided herein are just a few helpful hints on picking good territory for Kingfish.
Clean water – Though a few stray Kings have been caught inside the Charleston Harbor, these fish are a blue water pelagic fish, in other words most fish are caught outside the tidal mudline. Therefore if you plan on fishing close to shore for Kings you will want to fish around high tide when the cleaner ocean water is present.
Color change – Color change and clean water generally coincide with one another. Working the tidal mudline can be quite productive for Kingfish. Generally the muddy water is rich in nutrients and therefore holds baitfish. Kings are known to stay just outside the mudline picking off baitfish on the edge of the line. Further offshore color changes may occur as well as currents spin off the Gulf Stream and meet core waters. Working these color changes can be just as rewarding, as once again the darker water is usually richer in nutrients and therefore holds more baitfish.
Temperature breaks and rips – Temperature breaks are more prominent in the spring and early summer, and once again are usually a product of the Gulf Stream currents. Colder nutrient rich water meets warm Gulf Stream currents and eddies causing breaks. These breaks usual