Although Kingfish never leave our shores, I guess there are times of the year when we like to target them. Most fisherman I guess like to target any species pre spawn and again a month or 2 after the spawn when fish are trying to put on condition and are usually ravenous. Kingfish especially when in tip top condition can kick some serious arse especially the big thumpers that pull the scales down past 25kg. In saying that fish of 10-15kg when in good condition can punch way above there own weight.
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The above footage was filmed off the back of my boat, at the Volkner rocks near White Island in the bay of plenty. This particular footage was during a cubing session, this is the method we use to set Kingfish up for capture on salt-fly, Kingfish are an awesome target on the fly and for anyone who's ever caught one you'll know why.
Kingfish are absolute suckers for metal jiggs especially pre and post spawn. This season it was not unusual to catch 40 Kingfish in a day ranging in size, some days they will all big big mothers other days they can be small in the 7-10kg bracket, what ever the size they will be a hand full
The equipment mostly used this year were Offshore and jigging master rods and either Ocea jigger or torium reels with no lighter than 80lb braid for fishing and White Island
Look at the face on John from California he must of caught 15 Kings himself and was absolutely stuffed, all credit to him though, the size of his King are pretty much the norm in that particular area where the depth is of water is only around 30 to 40 meters so it's pretty much hook them up then lock up and hang on there favourite party trick is to dive down into the reef below and smash you off
This shot here shows the type of jigg and the general size we would use while chasing Kingfish at White. Obviously Live Jack Mackeral are great baits to drop down for Kings, however my favorite bait would have to be flying fish, absolutely the best bait to drop in on Kingfish in the areas we fish
this one went 36kg
the following 2 went over 30kg
The dates on the weighmasters board show a pre spawn fish in January and a post spawn in march, this season has been awesome and I guess we would have kept less than 1% of all the fish we caught these fish are just to dam good to catch to kill to many of them
All in all a great season with memories a plenty made for pretty much everyone who had a shot at the Kingfish around White
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