How To Catch Kingfish

How To Catch Kingfish

AREAS TO FISH

1. GULF OF MEXICO FROM 1 - 30 MILES OFFSHORE.

2. THE MOUTH OF ANY PASS, AND ALL ARTIFICIAL REEFS.

3. LOOK FOR DIVING BIRDS AROUND ANY HARD BOTTOM. HARD BOTTOM SHOULD HOLD BAIT WHICH IN TURN WILL HOLD KINGFISH.

4. IF THERE IS BAIT ON THE THE SURFACE OR ON YOUR RECORDER, THEN START FISHING. EQUIPMENT DIFFERENT RODS AND REELS ARE USED FOR LIVE BAIT FISHING AND ARTIFICIAL BAIT TROLLING.

LIVE BAIT EQUIPMENT

1. 7 FT. MEDIUM / LIGHT ACTION ROD

2. STANDARD LEVEL WIND REEL OR SPINNING REEL.

3. MINIMUM 200 YARDS OF 20 # TEST MONOFILAMENT LINE DIFFERENT RODS AND REELS ARE USED FOR LIVE BAIT FISHING AND ARTIFICIAL BAIT TROLLING.

4. SET THE DRAG AT 2 - 4 # DRAG. THIS IS DONE BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THE KINGFISH WILL BE HOOKED WITH THE STINGER HOOK IN THE FISH'S SIDE. IF YOU TIGHTEN DOWN THE DRAG , THE HOOK WILL PROBABLY PULL OUT.

5. 3 FT. OF COFFEE COLORED WIRE LEADER SHOULD BE 31# TEST WITH 10# BLACK SWIVEL. THE OTHER END SHOULD HAVE A #2 BAIT HOOK ATTACHED USING THE HAYWIRE TWIST. CONNECTED TO THE BAIT HOOK SHOULD BE A 4X- TREBLE HOOK (THE STINGER ). THE LENGTH OF THE STINGER SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 2/3 THE LENGTH OF YOUR BAIT.

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5. DON'T USE ANY SHINY WIRE AS THE FISH WILL SEE THE FLASH OF THE WIRE FROM THE SUN.

6. MANUFACTURER'S DOWN RIGGER OR POOR MAN'S DOWNRIGGER

LIVE BAITS

CIGAR MINNOWS SPANISH SARDINE SHAD THREADFIN HERRING MENHADEN SPANISH SARDINE SCALED SARDINE (white bait) BLUE RUNNER

2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD BAIT WELL WITH PLENTY OF FRESH SEA WATER TO KEEP THE BAITS LIVELY.

3. PUT THE BAIT HOOK THROUGH THE NOSE JUST UNDER THE HARD PART AND LET THE STINGER DANGLE. DO NOT PUT THE STINGER INTO THE BAIT.

4. PUT THE BAITS OUT ON THESE PATTERNS.

6. START SLOW TROLLING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, WHICH IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 500 RPM. YOU SHOULD DRAG 2 - 5 GALLON BUCKETS TO SLOW DOWN EVEN MORE. YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP THE LINES STRAIGHT BEHIND THE BOAT WITHOUT TANGLING.

7. THIS WILL LET THE BAITS SWIM NATURALLY. IF THE BAITS ARE ON THE SURFACE, THEN YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST.

8. WHEN A FISH HITS, DON'T SET THE HOOK. JUST HOLD ON TO THE POLE AND DON'T TOUCH THE DRAG.

9. WHILE THE OTHER ANGLERS CLEAR THE OTHER LINES , YOU MUST WORK YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF BOAT.

10. YOU MUST THEN FOLLOW THE FISH WITH THE BOAT, REELING ONLY WHEN THE FISH IS NOT TAKING OUT MORE LINE. BE PATIENT. THE HOOKS MAY NOT BE IN IT'S MOUTH, THEY MAY BE IN IT'S SIDE. IF YOU HORSE THE FISH, THE HOOKS MAY PULL OUT.

11. WHEN YOU GET THE FISH TO THE BOAT, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER LONG RUN.

12. NOW THE FISH IS READY FOR THE GAFF. GAFF THE FISH UP NEAR THE HEAD, THAT WAY IT WON'T BEAT UP YOU AND YOUR GAFF.

13. GAFF THE FISH AND BRING IT IN THE BOAT. CUT THE MONOFILAMENT LINE WITH THE HOOKS STILL IN THE FISH AND PUT THE FISH IN YOUR FISH BOX.

14. CONGRATULATIONS !!!

15. DO NOT RE-USE THE LEADER, BECAUSE IT IS PROBABLY SPRUNG AND WILL NOT WORK AGAIN.

TROLLING EQUIPMENT

1. 7 FT HEAVY ACTION POLE

2. SPINNING REEL OR LEVEL WIND REEL WITH AT LEAST 200 YARDS 30# TEST LINE.

3. #2 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 20 FT. #3 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 30 FT. #4 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 40 FT.

ARTIFICIAL BAITS

1. LOOK FOR DIVING BIRDS OR BAIT SCHOOLS. DO NOT TROLL THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL. ALWAYS GO AROUND THE OUTSIDE, THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE MACKEREL OR KINGFISH WILL HANG OUT.

2. YOU MAY WANT TO ONLY USE 3 POLES WHILE TROLLING

3. PUT THE LINE THAT YOU WILL USE FOR YOUR DOWNRIGGER OUT FIRST. APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET, THEN ATTACH IT TO YOUR DOWNRIGGER. LOWER YOUR DOWNRIGGER BALL , WITH YOUR LINE ATTACHED, TO 1 / 2 THE DEPTH OF THE WATER YOU ARE TROLLING IN.

4. IF YOU ARE USING PLANERS , CHOOSE THE PLANER THAT WILL TAKE YOUR ARTIFICIAL LURE TO 1 / 2 THE DEPTH THAT YOU ARE TROLLING.

5. USE A 50 # MONOFILAMENT LEADER THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 FEET FROM YOUR PLANER.

6. TRY DIFFERENT DEPTHS TO SEE WHERE THE FISH ARE BITING.

7.SURFACE LINES ON ONE SIDE OF THE BOAT, PUT ONE LINE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET BEHIND THE BOAT. THE OTHER SIDE PUT ONE LINE BACK APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET.

8. START TROLLING AT 1500 RPM. THIS SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MPH. IF NOTHING HAPPENS , THEN TRY SLOWING DOWN FOR AWHILE OR SPEEDING UP.

9. ONCE A FISH HITS, JUST SLOW THE BOAT DOWN AND REEL THE FISH IN.