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A West Coast Pro Reveals All
“Fish on!” I exclaimed as line poured off the unmanned 15lb. spinner in
the port rod holder. We scrambled to get off the hook and chase down
the runaway freight train attached to the other end of the 30lb.
fluorocarbon leader we’d been using to free line small chunks back to a
school of red-hot mangroves. Within a few seconds the spool was showing
metal and then… Pop! We had officially been “smoked”!
As the curtain falls on yet another spectacular spring kingfish run, there is perhaps some unfinished business along Florida’s Gulf Coast. That 30-pound plus kingfish that eluded you all season is still out there waiting to be caught. However, in order to achieve summertime smoker success you may need to switch gears, change your tactics and target these sleek speedsters in areas you might not consider prime kingfish haunts.
Traditional methods such as “dragging metal” (planers and spoons) and casting jigs to schools of marauding kings are favorite tactics for playing the numbers game during the spring and fall. But as we slip into summer, the schools thin out and only a few stragglers remain. The good news is that the fish that do linger tend to be large, rouge and eager to eat. Although the majority of these “smokers” are incidental bottom fishing by-catches, these fish can be targeted effectively if you know where to go and what to throw.
While pursuing late season kings, it is important remember that it’s not about numbers anymore… it’s all about that one big bite! Areas to target late season smokers tend to shift a bit from the vast trolling grounds of fall and spring to smaller, more fixed areas such as wrecks, artificial reefs and limestone ledges.
However, these catches do often come at a price. As water temperatures sky rocket into the upper 80s, wrecks and reefs along Florida’s Gulf Coast become playgrounds for ferocious barracuda, Volkswagon-sized goliath grouper and numerous species of coastal sharks. The mere presence of any of these species can commonly lead to heartbreak as trophy kings are routinely chomped, bitten in half or fully engulfed at the boat during prolonged battles. Unfortunately, 10 years of guiding has taught me that these are the facts of life.
Unlike spring and fall when kingfish seem to be everywhere between Marco Island and Marathon, hard bottom areas and ledges holding large concentrations of baitfish are where anglers need to focus their kingfish catching efforts during the summer months. Although many of these natural fish magnets tend to exist primarily in depths greater than 30 feet, anglers should not overlook the small breaks, ledges and rock piles that dot the southwest Florida coastline in less than 20 feet of water.
Contrary to popular belief, small, shallow water spots are where many of the biggest kings are landed every year on the west coast. Commonly referred to as “beachcombers”, large kings roam the shallows dining on schools of bait with little or no competition from other fish. And although these “close in” spots are the subject of significant fishing pressure, the fish’s appetites seldom seem adversely effected.
When fishing for big summer kings, bait choice is a key component in your success. Big live bait is my answer! And veteran Naples guide Captain Eric Alexander of the Solo Lobo agrees. Solidifying bait with a Sabiki rig or cast net is usually a snap during the summer months, but it can become a laborious process when affected by an unfavorable moon phase, bad sea conditions or poor water quality.
“Catching bait is a necessary evil,” says Alexander. “But, the reward is most often worth the effort.”
Mainstay baits for this explosive fishery include threadfin herring, big-eye shiners, cigar minnows and blue runners, which are hardiest on the troll and easiest to catch in fair numbers. Not to be overlooked in your bait arsenal should be fresh caught mullet. In fact, large kingfish are suckers for a properly rigged and trolled mullet. Elusive at times, it is a good idea to net and pen your mullet prior to your outing in order to take advantage of an early morning bite.
Prior to your filling your livewell, be sure you have adequate water flow to support a supply of relatively large baits. In a fishery where the health of your trolling baits is paramount to your success, well-oxygenated live wells will often make the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.
While fall and spring runs of schoolie size fish enable anglers to use relatively light rods, summers anglers should beef up their tackle to minimize the risk of being “smoked.” As avid light tackle enthusiasts, Capt. Eric and I thrive on pitting the smallest tackle against the largest fish. But, when pursuing late season kings on the Grand Slam or the Solo Lobo that philosophy is tossed right out the window. We know that in order to stop one of these runaway freight trains, it’s going to take some slightly more serious tackle.
Although our philosophies are similar, our tackle selection is somewhat different. When fishing for big smoker kings, I prefer 7-foot medium-heavy St.Croix Premier Series spinning rods matched with Penn 7500s or Shimano Baitrunner 6500s. With these formidable fishing combinations, I’m confident my anglers are adequately tackled while retaining a sporting approach to tangling with these toothy pelagics. Reels are spooled with 40lb. high-visibility Power Pro for stopping power on blistering runs and to avoid the dreaded line twist inevitably associated trolled monofilament.
For those who prefer to fish with conventional gear, 7-foot St.Croix Premier Series trolling rods matched with Penn 545s or Shimano TLD 20s Spooled with 30lb. Maxima Tournament Silver have proven to be up to the task of catching big kings in a variety of situations.
On the business end, I have found that kingfish leaders can’t be too long. Three-foot Bimini twists attached to at least a rod’s length of 30 to 60lb. Maxima fluorocarbon with an Albright special is standard issue aboard the Grand Slam.
When it comes to tackle selection, Capt. Eric’s philosophy differs in that he is willing to take the chance of being spooled and use lighter running lines. He is able to do this by increasing the size of his leader material…… A self- proclaimed “old school” guide, Alexander sticks to using monofilament lines for their stretch and ease of knot tying, especially when wet hands are the result of a fast and furious fishing action. Alexander says keeping his clients in the game is what it’s all about.
Alexander’s spinning rod of choice is a 7-½ foot Diawa Coastal Fast Action accompanied by a Shimano Spheros 8000FA packed with 250-plus yards of 16lb. mono. Alexander also uses a variety of 7-1/2 foot conventional rods with Shimano TR200 reels filled to capacity with 300 yards of 20lb. test monofilament. Capt. Eric ties either a four-foot spider hitch or Bimini twist attached to 60 or 80lb. fluorocarbon with and Albright special.
Whichever combination you chose, it is important to keep in mind that rods with fairly soft tips, reels with heaps of line capacity and good leader material are a must. Typical kingfish combinations will also work well for many other live bait applications such as dolphin and tarpon fishing.
Rigging live baits for “smoker” kings has become quite advanced over the past decade. Gone are the days of trolling with heavy wire, bulky terminal tackle and large hooks. Today’s kingfish rig is sleek, hydrodynamic and stealthy. Many of these new rigging techniques have came about through innovations developed by anglers fishing on the ultra-competitive Southern Kingfish Association Tournament Trail. In events where the quality of a team’s bait presentation can mean the difference between $2000 and $25,000, mastering the art of rigging using light wire and smaller hooks often gives tournament anglers a decisive edge over their competition.
A professional’s standard wire live bait rig begins with a haywire twist at one end of 18 to 36 inches of coffee colored single strand wire. At the other end, a second haywire twist will be used to connect a 1/0 or 2/0 Owner live bait hook. Consistent hookups are facilitated by splicing in a “stinger rig” consisting of a single #4 or #6 (4x) Owner treble hook. Stinger rigs are implemented to minimize the numerous short strikes that plague king mackerel fisherman everywhere.
To attach the wire rig directly to a monofilament leader, use an Albright Special; or if you prefer to use a quality small diameter barrel swivel, an improved clinch knot will work quite well.
There are many factors in determining wire size. Late spring and summer offer anglers some of the best water clarity of the year. However when fishing for big summer kings, water clarity can both benefit and hinder an angler’s success. In clear water conditions, anglers should downsize as much as possible without compromising their chances of success. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep a wide selection of 38lb. to 80lb. wire leader onboard at all times. The well prepared kingfisher is ready to rig for any and all conditions at a moments notice.
Pre-tying rigs is a must for any fishing guide or tournament angler. However, it is a habit that recreational anglers should also practice as often as possible. We all know there is nothing worse than being on a hot bite and having no baits in the water.
Another rigging technique king fishermen have borrowed from the world of big game fishing is the addition of skirts or dusters to their trolling rigs. These wild looking fish attractors come in a variety of colors and sizes and, depending upon who you ask either are or are not an essential ingredient in every kingfisher’s arsenal. While Capt. Eric prefers trolling his rigged baits naked, I am quite partial to them myself.
After considerable time spent experimenting with teasers, trailers and skirts, I have found that large mullet and blue runners slow trolled behind a Skipperspride Turbo Rattler drive large kingfish absolutely crazy. These rocket-top shaped chambers contain literally dozens of rattles and are manufactured from extremely durable plastic. Designed to enhance trolling rigs for all species of striking fish, these supplemental fish attractors come from the factory ready to rig. Rigging is made simple by sliding the rubber stop, rattle and glass bead directly over your teaser or rigged bait.
Although kingfish will respond to a wide variety of natural bait presentations, standard rigging procedures differ from bait to bait. For blue runners, place the main hook at the curve of the head. Pilchards and herring should be hooked through the bridge of the nose while mullet can be secured by passing the hook upward through the bottom and upper lips. Stinger hooks should be strategically placed somewhere between the dorsal fin and tail. Whether running your baits on the surface or deeper in the water column, taking the time to rig them correctly will ensure proper presentation while trolling.
As the number of fish in your area dwindles, so too will the need to use downriggers to present your baits. Slow trolling live baits will most effectively entice large rogue kings during the summer months.
To achieve a stealthy sub-surface presentation without the use of a downrigger, use a ¼-ounce or ½-ounce egg sinker just above the wire portion of your kingfish rig. This should be enough to keep your bait just beneath the surface while on the troll.
When fishing with smaller hooks, light drag settings become necessary to avoid missed strikes and hook pulls. By using a drag scale, anglers can achieve exact 4 to 6 pound drag settings on each of their trolling rods prior to embarking on their summer smoker outings. Light drag settings help minimize pulled hooks and missed strikes by allowing a slashing kingfish to pick a bait up and run with it more easily.
To keep things manageable, a spread of three to four baits is sufficient. Ideal presentations include a combination of two long, one short and one either down or in the prop wash. Summer kingfish baits should be trolled at speeds between one and three knots.
Whether trolling a ledge or wreck or free lining live baits at anchor, anglers can enhance their chances for success by chumming areas thoroughly. Deploying blocks of frozen chum and broadcasting handfuls of live pilchards is a surefire way to turn lethargic summer beachcombers into voracious feeding machines. Large fish tend to bite early or late in the day. So, spending too much time at a particular spot waiting for the bite to happen is not a good approach. By ‘running and gunning’, anglers can cover more ground and perhaps “make” the bite happen by being proactive.
Once a large king is hooked, it is imperative to clear all other lines and, if necessary, chase down the fish. For boats at anchor over wrecks and ledges, it often pays to have a float system attached to your anchor that allows for a quick release to avoid being spooled or to steer your fish away from the wreck.
After a large fish has been played out and brought boat side, it is often in harms way. On the west coast, barracuda, sharks and goliath grouper are notorious for seizing the opportunity to dine on your trophy catch. Capt. Eric has had success keeping the opportunists at bay by circling the kingfish with his boat.
“This technique is not full proof,” Alexander said. “But, it has saved many a trophy catch on my boat.”
Although it can be feast or famine when it comes to catching big kingfish on the Gulf Coast during the summer months, anglers can ensure summer smoker success by combining sound trolling tactics, proper rigging techniques and strategic bait selections. Hook one of these toothy adversaries on light tackle in the middle of a hot summer day and you too will agree that the reward is worth the effort, even if you do get smoked once in a while!
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Captain Will Geraghty is an I.G.F.A. Certified Captain who owns and operates a complete guide service in Naples, FL. A lifelong resident of southwest Florida, Capt. Will specializes in both inshore and offshore light-tackle sport fishing. A member of the Florida Guides Association and the SKA, Capt. Will has been featured in various local and national media including, Sport Fishing Magazine, Gulfshore Life, Naples Daily News and on the television fishing show Tales of the Everglades Angler. Capt. Will also writes a weekly column called “Fish Tales” for The Naples Sun Times. He is a pro staff member of Mercury Outboards, Gulf Shores Marina, St. Croix Rods, Fair Waters Jigs, Pure Fishing, Okuma Reels and The Florida Angler.
To plan your next sport fishing adventure on the Gulf Coast, Call Captain Will at (239)793-0969 or visit him on the web at www.naplessportfishing.com.
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