Thread: King Rigs

I'm coming down to Gulf Shore pier for the first two weeks of May. Mainly to Spanish and King fish. I live and have grown up on the OBX of NC. I king fish from boat and piers up here. Much different from piers up here. We use anchor rods. Can someone tell me the typical king rig you are free lining with. I know how to tie king rigs. I need to know if you tie your king rigs off of flourocarbon leader. Or directly to braid. Also we fish gotchas 99% of time for spanish off piers. I know you guys fish bubbles and speck rigs. Are these the same speck rigs we fish tipped with gulp for flounder and trout? Really looking forward to fishing gulf shore. First time. Thanks for any help and replies I can get. Catamount

Welcome, click on the link below. It's a good forum discussion on the topic of king mackerel.

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...t=king+leaders

Catamount---Tigershark steered you in the right direction. Most of the experienced king fishermen use a top shot of some 100 yards of mono over the braid and tie the leader to the mono. Not that the mono is superior to braid, but it sure is easier to undo the inevitable tangles. Gotchas are great that time of year, as are heavy, sinking spoons. Our speck rigs are two smaller jigs on separate lines, usually white or/and yellow. Single spear head jigs are great, too. Good fishing.

Catamount, I grew up fishing the OBX and Atantic Beach areas. A lot of memories. I'll be in Gulf Shores in early May. Hope we can meet.

Just remember less is best, I have seen some monstrous things on the east coast piers....heavy wire to 3 placed hooks on the bait fish(head,middle,tail) kings have good eyes, sometimes just going to the next size smaller lighter treble hook will get more bites.....no more then 29-30lb steel brown leader. ...single or non coated 7strand....

How long do you make it

18in + or -

I sent 27# single strand wire and a #4 2x or 4x treble, small back swivel. My leader are usually 6-8” long.

I think that it doesn't matter that much how long the leader is, as long as the teeth of the king don't come in contact with the mono (all I use). I think that my leaders are usually about a foot to fourteen inches -- something like that. I also use single-strand 27 lb coffee colored wire leader.

Originally Posted by tigershark

Welcome, click on the link below. It's a good forum discussion on the topic of king mackerel.

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...t=king+leaders

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the info. Great deal of help. Will be down May 1st. I hope you come say hello. Also like to sheephead fish. Bringing my own sandfleas and fiddlers. Also a little trick is scraping barnacles and grinding and crunching them up. Mixing with small amount of bubble gum. Sheephead can't suck bait off the hook. Sounds crazy but it works. Again thank you. Catamount