Thread: Kings tonight

What's the chance of catching some kings tonight? Or tomorrow morning?

I don't fish for kings at night. If I did, it would be on a full moon, so that they could see my cigar minnow drifting. I'm there at 5:00 a.m. to have my bait in the water at first light. Sometimes there's an early morning king bite between 5:30 and 6:00. There are SO many variables, though, including wind, current, and tides, that it's impossible to say when or if the bite is going to turn on. If you go tomorrow morning, you'll want to have your cigar minnows already purchased, if that's what you plan on using for bait at first light.

Originally Posted by eym_sirius

I don't fish for kings at night. If I did, it would be on a full moon, so that they could see my cigar minnow drifting. I'm there at 5:00 a.m. to have my bait in the water at first light. Sometimes there's an early morning king bite between 5:30 and 6:00. There are SO many variables, though, including wind, current, and tides, that it's impossible to say when or if the bite is going to turn on. If you go tomorrow morning, you'll want to have your cigar minnows already purchased, if that's what you plan on using for bait at first light.

Those minnows dead or alive? Also what else would possibly be biting that early?

The minnows are frozen. You might also catch Spanish, bluefish and sharks that early.

Sorry - I thought that you knew about using cigar minnows for kings. You may want to go by J & M (the address is at the top right of this page) and let them set you up with cigar minnows and appropriate terminal tackle if you don't have that set up already (steel leader, swivels and strong treble hooks). They open at 5 am.

Is it possible to catch kings from the surf? What would be a good size reel and size of line, is steel leader a must use?

Originally Posted by witler

Is it possible to catch kings from the surf? What would be a good size reel and size of line, is steel leader a must use?

It is possible that I may win the next PowerBall, and the odds are probably better than catching a king from the surf.

Unless you are one of God's most favored children, a steel leader is a must.

Spend the nine bucks and fish for them off the pier. There are people there who will help you.

Originally Posted by witler

Is it possible to catch kings from the surf? What would be a good size reel and size of line, is steel leader a must use?

A King Mackerel is an efficient predator with razor-sharp teeth. He uses them to slash and then quickly consume prey. Many times when you feed a cigar minnow or other baitfish to a king you have to go deep to retrieve your treble hook. That means that the teeth in his elongated head will be contacting the line as much as a foot (depending on the size of the fish) from the hook if he swallowed the bait. While the king is running away, on that characteristic first long run, the leader runs across those teeth from the side. As he's coming toward you the leader can come across his front teeth and slide across them all as he changes direction and thrashes, trying to dislodge the hook. Mono, braid, or fluorocarbon leader would all succumb to the razor-sharpness of his teeth. They absolutely would not hold up, due to their physical properties which involves relative softness, which allows King teeth penetration. Yes, you absolutely have to use a steel leader for king mackerel.

Here's why I think that you'll never see kings in the surf. They're predators, but they are also prey items for sharks and dolphins. They need a deep-water escape route that doesn't exist in the surf. That's why, I think, you'll never see them cross the sand bar. I think that they're just hardwired that way. What size rod and reel? Similar to those combos marketed inland for big catfish an stripers, a spinning reel that will hold at least a couple of hundred yards of 17-20 pound test line. Your line should be new or at least very fresh with no flaws and the terminal tackle should be secured with high quality knots. If you try to cut corners in any way, you're not going to be successful. If you don't know how to tie a good knot, now is the time to learn. Do a YOUTUBE search of a UNI-KNOT. It's easy and it holds. You can learn to tie one in just a few minutes! Do not use a series of overhand knots - it's what many inexperienced fishermen do and the line cuts into itself and you'll lose the big fish every time!

Look at HAYWIRE'S account picture. That's how I secure my wire leader to my hook and to the swivel. I use about 10 twists around and cut off the tag-end with a good pair of pliers. It holds. Make sure you cut the tag-end close because that little nub can easily puncture your skin. Also important is that you secure the nub and dispose of it. Don't let it fall into your carpet, for instance for you to step on later. OUCH!

FYI -- I think that my copper colored wire leader is about 27# (leader size).

Originally Posted by eym_sirius

Look at HAYWIRE'S account picture. That's how I secure my wire leader to my hook and to the swivel. I use about 10 twists around and cut off the tag-end with a good pair of pliers. It holds. Make sure you cut the tag-end close because that little nub can easily puncture your skin. Also important is that you secure the nub and dispose of it. Don't let it fall into your carpet, for instance for you to step on later. OUCH!

DO NOT use pliers to trim the tag end of your haywire twists. No matter how good your pliers or clipping skills are there is no way you can trim it close enough to avoid a burr. Do it like this Aussie on youtube to trim it flush and you have less worry of losing the tag end in your carpet also.

I showed this to some folks in the store yesterday in less than a minute.
Now they can make their own leaders on the sailboat trip to the Bahamas!