Trolling is a popular fishing technique used by recreational and professional anglers alike to land king mackerel. When done properly, trolling can be an effective way to catch king mackerel, but the question of how fast to troll for them arises. While it is true that trolling speed varies depending on a variety of factors, there are some general tips that can be used to help anglers determine the best trolling speed for king mackerel. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what those factors are and how they can be used to determine the proper trolling speed for king mackerel. We’ll also discuss some strategies and techniques that can be used to further increase your chances of success when trolling for these prized game fish.
Slow Trolling from Small Boats
Small private boats make excellent catching platforms for these fast-moving battlers, which is one of the best things about trolling for kings off the Alabama beaches. To catch some wonderful kings, it does not require a long run or extremely heavy equipment, but it does require some patience and slow speed.
Small boats are very effective at slow trolling for kings. This highly effective technique works just as it sounds. Go slowly. The boat should be moving just quickly enough to move the baits and maintain the distance between the lines. One to two knots is fine. It’s not even necessary to keep moving at all times. When a trolled live bait that has been allowed to sink while the boat is stopped suddenly moves when the boat is put into gear and the movement is started again, some enormous king mackerel strikes occur.
When slowly trolling, a few lines from a small boat are about right. The traditional king mackerel offering in Alabama is a 2- or 3-hook stinger rig with a duster in pink, silver, or purple colors and a frozen or live cigar minnow. Set the first flat line at a distance of about 50 feet, and the second at a distance of perhaps 100 feet. Put the rods in corner holders. To keep the baits apart and moving slowly, simply jerk the boat in and out of gear. There will be no question whatsoever if a king accepts the bait.
It is much simpler to maintain them straight and untangled when only two lines are extended from a smaller boat. When a king strikes a bait on one line, it frequently happens that another king will strike the second bait. Most anglers and crew will have plenty of action from two irate hooked kings.
If the angler prefers, slow trolling equipment can be either spinning or conventional. A reel with at least 250 yards of 20 to 25 pound test line is the only requirement. Reel drag needs to be non-sticky and smooth. The drag must allow the fish to run under light pressure when a large smoker king strikes. The hooks will unquestionably be pulled from the fish or the line will be severed if the drag is set too tight or sticks. When the fish has finished its initial, blisteringly fast run, the drag can be increased to help the fish swim back to the boat.
A good modern sonar unit on a small boat makes for an extremely efficient king mackerel catching tool. While trolling, keep an eye on the screen. When balls of bait show up, get ready. The kings will not be far away. Additionally, while trolling about a mile off the coast of Alabama, look for bottom structure. The kingfish will be where the bait is because it tends to gather around the bottom stuff.
When the U. S. We learn about “Mach Speed” as the Navy Blue Angels visit the area. “Mach 1 is the same as the sound speed in air.” For normal, dry conditions and a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the speed of sound measured at sea level is 768 mph. In general, sound travels faster in warmer air. That bit of information won’t enable you to catch more fish. However, if the same kind of science is applied to “Mack Speed,” According to a review of logbook entries, the speed in mph required to catch more mackerel is equal to the water temperature of the Chesapeake Bay minus five divided by 10 plus or minus 0 degrees Fahrenheit. 3. (Editor’s Note: Huh??).
I wasn’t catching mackerel during the first few weeks of August 2019 until I received a tip to start it: troll at eight mph.
Individual results may vary for a variety of reasons, including the accuracy of your fish finder (for speed and water temperature), the turns you make while trolling, your ability to note speed when fish are on, water current, waves, and wind, to name a few. Nevertheless, aim for the ideal speed to catch the most mackerel, and don’t worry if you can’t always keep it. A dozen mackerel are waiting for you as long as you remain in that area. Of course, if you fish outside the Mack Speed range, you will still catch some fish, just not as many.
I reviewed my notes and images, acting as a “validator of data,” as an engineer frequently must. The Mack Speed rule of thumb is produced by the math, and it’s so simple that even the Angler in Chief can use it. (Editor’s note: Hey, wait a sec…).
Big Boat King Mackerel Trolling
Capt. Troy Frady of Distraction Family Fishing Charters catches a lot of kings every season by trolling. He gives us the benefit of his many years of experience.
The temperature of the water, says Captain Troy, is the most important factor. We look for 70-degree surface water temperature. That’s the time we start trolling. The warmer it gets, the better. No specific water clarity is required when searching for kings. In general, the water gets clearer the closer we get to Pensacola, but that’s not always the best for fishing. It’s better when the muddy water from the spring’s heavy rains that drain out of Mobile Bay starts to clear up. The fresh water tends to disperse the bait. The optimal period for trolling for kings is typically from mid-June until October. ”.
To get bait down to deeper fish, Captain Troy pulls a combination of planer boards on his large boat. He also pulls a flat line that presents bait to kingfish that are close to the surface. Quite often, the largest kings take the shallow flat line.
He says, “Our trolling speed depends on the size of the planers we’re using. If we are using Number 1 or 2 planers, we’ll go as fast as seven knots, but we usually pull at five to six knots. We will slow-troll over reefs. We’ll use a 10- or 12-ounce lead with a three-way swivel with live bait. Cigar minnows are good. We’ll use stinger rigs.”
Anglers who are new to king mackerel trolling are advised by Captain Troy to go on a charter trip with a captain who regularly engages in this style of fishing. Watch how the baits are rigged. Look at the gear being used. Observe how the lines are presented. Ask questions and take notes. By observing how professionals play the king mackerel trolling game, you can learn about it more quickly.
FAQ
What is the best trolling speed for king mackerel?
King mackerel can be lured and caught using a variety of techniques, such as straight trolling at seven to ten knots. You can use a variety of baits, but Spoons, Halco, and Clark are well-liked baits that catch a lot of fish.
How fast should you troll for kings?
We always troll a little bit slower than usual when going after kingfish. For many species, 6-8 knots is fine. For kings, 3-5 knots seems to be the sweet spot.
