From a Pier The most economical way of getting to the ‘kings’ and many othernear-offshore species such as tunas little tuny and blackfin),
Multi-Speed Troll
On the Gulf coast, slow trolling is the most common method for catching kingfish, but other methods, such as fast trolling, can also be effective. Three rods are needed for slow trolling, which should be done at 800 to 1100 RPM (2–3 kts). One rod should be used for slow trolling on a hot, calm day when the water temperature is above 80 degrees F, with a live bait (menhaden, herring, cigar minnow, blue rinner) trailing a chartreuse seawitch (see seawitch rig). A large trolling lure should be used on the last rod, and one rod should be set on the surface with a baited seawitch or duster rig (silver, green, or purple). On cloudy, choppy days, cast one crankbait or plug (yellow, red/white, or Mackerel pattern), one surface, and one deep-baited rig (planer or with a down rigger). Although one bait should be placed at 10 yards to catch fish drawn to the boat, lures and baits should be placed 30 yards behind the boat. Use the slow troll, especially if you are trolling over a reef or wreck, circling a school of fish, or spotting bait or birds on the surface. Your best option is to cover a lot of water with a fast troll because, on many days, the fish are nowhere to be found (or you are headed to reef, as on a party boat). The choice of lure is crucial because most baits fall off at 8 to 13 kts and many lures skip. Additionally, based on your choice of lure, you might need to upgrade your tackle. If you don’t mind spending $40 on a lure, a Yo-Zuri Bonito series lure (14 oz variety) fished with a 4/0-6/0 class reel and 80lb wire leader (5 long) will definitely work to draw kings’ attention at higher speeds. For the rest of us, fish a surface trolling lure in chartreuse on overcast or hazy days. Whereas a bait would typically be fished, the sea-witch rig used with a soft plastic finesse lure (pink/yellow saltwater assassin, floozy, or sluggo) can be deadly. A cheap alternative is the Octpus rig, which can be used with or without the soft plastic lure mentioned above. Finally, Silver-Streak lures, Trollng feathers, and Tuna Tangos also work. Fish at least one black/pink or black-purple lure on sunny days. Use at least three rods (though for a party boat you can usually get away with one) and lay out the rods as follows: Fish a large lure (10″+) at a distance of 25 yards (or on the second wake behind the boat, whichever is further away), one lure at a distance of 30 yards, and the last lure at a distance of 35 yards. Set your one rod at 30 yards with a 6″ or larger lure if you only have one, as you would when towing a lure behind a party boat. A 3+ #4-#8 trolling wire leader is a necessity in all circumstances to avoid being bitten by a kingfish. Use only black, small swivels; otherwise, a kingfish may strike the swivel rather than the lure.
a species that migrates and typically shows up between April and November in the waters off Texas and Middle Florida Although they have occasionally been discovered off the piers in December They migrate south during the winter to the warm waters off South Florida and the Yucatan in Mexico.
Their arrival typically occurs shortly after that of the Spanish Mackerel. Both are pursuing squid and baitfish that are migrating up the coast to the northern gulf. The kings don’t mind eating smaller Spanish mackerel despite being related to each other. In the spring, many smoker kings were caught on flattened 12″ Spanish mackerels.
Thus, after hooking up and engaging in combat with a king at the pier The issue of bringing the king mackerel in and placing it atop the pier is another. For this, a pier gaff will be necessary, in which a sizable multi-tined gaff is dropped down and raised under the king to bring it over the rail. However, hold off on grabbing one right away. Almost always, someone will have a gaff and be willing to help you out. When this happens, follow their instructions, and you’ll win the prize. But just keep trying if you happen to lose your catch there. It’s just the way things are that the majority of fish are lost at the gaff.
You want a reel of reasonable quality that can hold 300 yards of 15- to 20-pound monofilament line and has a smooth drag. Use a monofilament line because a braided line may, under pressure, cut off other people’s lines. For a reel, I fish a Penn 706z. But there are many more modern options available. The important factor here is your line capacity. Kings are capable of long fast runs. Getting spooled by a large smoker king a possibility. Drag pressure isn’t as important as having a smooth drag. Given that kingfish have soft mouths, jerky drags and excessive drag weight will both pull the hook.
You need single- or seven-strand wire with a breaking strength of between 27 and 41 pounds for the last component of your rig. This will act as your bite leader to prevent being cut off by the king’s razor-sharp teeth. Whether to use a single strand or a seven strand is a matter of personal preference. Single-strand has the advantage of a clean tag end that won’t cut you in addition to being stiffer but lower profile. But to get a leader ready with a haywire twist, it takes more effort and time. Seven stand wire leaders are adaptable and quickly and easily tied into a leader. The knots’ tag ends are very sharp, and if it gets kinked, it can’t be straightened.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Anchor rods spooled with 25- to 30-pound mono or braid on stiff, 6- to 7-foot roads with 50TW reels loaded with 80- to 100-pound monofilament. Live baits can easily be slid onto the water using a clothespin rig. Terminal rigs of No. 7 wire with two dropper lines containing No. 2 treble hooks and 5-foot wire leaders. Live bluefish, menhaden or pinfish are top baits.
One of the guys will throw a cast net when the menhaden are passing by to gather enough baitfish to put in the live-bait tank and begin the day’s fishing, according to Roseman. Anyone who is fishing for kings can get a bait from the communal bait tank. A lot of people add fish to the tank. ”.
Roseman pays out line from his bait rod through the sliding outrigger clip on the anchor line once his baitfish is ready. In an effort to draw the attention of a larger predator like a king, a Spanish, a cobia, or even a shark, fishermen want the baitfish to swim in a circle 2 to 4 feet below the surface.
A 4-ounce weight adorned with metal spikes is tied to a reel on an anchor rod that is spooled with 25- to 30-pound monofilament to anchor the line in the sand. A fisherman casts this weight as far out as possible from the end of the pier, pulls it to drive the spikes into the bottom, and then reels in the extra line. He fastens a sliding 2-ounce weight to the anchor line before lowering a live bait into the water. An outrigger clip is located beneath the 2-ounce weight on the sliding clip; historically, clothespins or robust rubber bands were used instead. The fighting rod’s line is fed through the clip with the baitfish and hooks attached to the business end. The pressure from a gamefish biting on the baitfish releases the line from the clip, allowing the angler to fight the fish with the fighting rod.
Bryant founded Bryants Corners at 52nd St. with his brother Harold. and Jiffy Bait & Tackle, which later moved to Oak Island Drive Even though he occasionally fishes for king mackerel, he prefers to catch smaller species. He frequently provides live bait for OCP’s king anglers, catching bluefish, spots, and pinfish that he then dumps into the neighborhood bait tank.
FAQ
How do you catch king mackerel from the pier?
Almost all of the top tournament anglers agree that silvery live baits like pilchards, threadfin herring, menhaden, mullet, and blue runners are preferable to dead baits. These same anglers also bring frozen baits like cigar minnows, ribbonfish, and Spanish mackerel because live bait is not always readily available.
What is the best bait for king mackerel?
king mackerel are caught by anglers from boats or the ends of ocean fishing piers. Trolling with a variety of live and dead baitfish, spoons, jigs, and other artificial lures is how they are caught. Slow trolling is the most popular method used. At a very slow speed, several baits are pulled behind the boat.
