For the average angler, catching a kingfish exerts a thrill that few other fish can match. The kingfish's size, strength and powerful appearance are enough to send many people into raptures over this large but elusive game fish. Catching these magnificent creatures is not an easy task though. Kingfishing requires knowledge of different types of bait, the best time to go fishing, and an understanding of how to use a titanium hook.
Fishing for kingfish is a popular pastime in coastal regions throughout Australia. Whether you are off the coast of Sydney or Brisbane or further south in Melbourne or Adelaide, there will always be anglers out on the water looking for a big catch. On the east coast of Australia, people are able to pursue kingfish all year round due to the warmer water, but in Tasmania and Victoria the season is restricted to winter months. There are different species of kingfish that inhabit Australian waters; bluefin (Thyrsites atun), eastern (Seriola lalandi) and northern (Scomberomorus semifasciatus) are all popular with anglers.
Choose Right Fishing Bait For Kingfish
Fishing for kingfish is not always easy, but by using the right type of bait it can be made much more likely that you will get a bite. One of the most successful ways to fish for kingfish using bait is to use pilchards, which are small silver fish with large scales. Pilchards can be used whole or cut in half, and they should either be hooked through the eyes or just behind the head.
Whole pilchards are slower than using sections of fish, but once fishing has commenced there is little need to change baits unless one bait becomes damaged by a struggling fish. Pilchards are best used on a long trace, and it is a good idea to have a fairly heavy sinker attached to the trace around 2 metres from the hook. These sinkers should be fairly large, as kingfish can be quite strong and capable of removing a small or medium sized weight if they become tangled up in seaweed or a rock ledge. For anglers looking to fish off the rocks, using a larger sinker with rubber tubing attached is probably going to be an even better idea – these rubber protectors can withstand wear and tear that would otherwise break the line.
The bottom line for fishing with pilchards is that they need to be fresh enough for the kingfish to be able to take them easily. If you are fishing in an area where there is no running water, it might be a good idea to keep any leftover pilchards for the following day or two, but after that they will have become too dry and flaky for successful catches.
Whole squid can also be used as bait for kingfish, and most people who use squid will cut it into sections. If you are using a black and white striped squid, the best approach is to remove the head and insides but leave the tentacles on. For plain-coloured squid, just leaving the head will suffice. Once again, if your squid has been frozen then it is probably best to try and keep it for another day or two, but you will find that fresh squid works the best.
If you are fishing close to shore in an area where there are strong wave currents, then using a whole squid might not be the most practical approach because it could be swept away from your hook before a kingfish even gets a chance to take it. There are two things you can do in this situation; either cut your squid into smaller sections or use what is known as "floating row cover". Row cover looks like the plastic covers used for gardens, and when looped around your line it acts both as an attractant and as a means of slowing down the speed of your bait as it is swept along the seabed.
The final type of bait you can use for kingfish is a strip of mullet or mackerel, and this sort of option is only recommended if you intend to fish on the bottom. Any sort of fish that has been cut into strips can be used, but the most popular option is to use fish fillets cut from a larger fresh fish. Kingfish are more likely to hit mullet if it is presented on the bottom because they will have enough time to inspect it before taking it, whereas they tend to attack squid more quickly as it falls towards them.
Fish fillets are best used with one of the earlier mentioned weights, and this should be attached to your line via a loop at the other end. This means that any fish fillet you are using should not rest on the bottom, but should float slightly above it. By doing this you will increase the number of kingfish you can catch because more of them will try to take your bait as it drifts towards them.
Conclusion
Before you begin fishing for kingfish, it is worth remembering that they can be very strong and they are capable of removing lighter weights. It is a good idea to use heavier weights if you wish to increase your chances of catching these fish, and most anglers attach rubber protectors to their line with the weight at the end. If you are just starting out then the best idea is to fish close to shore because kingfish will be less likely to grab your bait and swim off with it very quickly.
