By Will Schmidt
Nothing quite gets your heart rate up like the sound of drag screaming as a king rips line from the reel. Maybe it’s so exciting because for many, kingfish fishing can be slow, especially when targeting big fish. The good news is there are some tournament proven techniques that can really help.
Perhaps the most well-known tactic to bring kings to you is chumming. There are several forms. Cutting up chunks of threadfins and tossing them into the current is certainly a tried-and-true method. This is a great method especially if you are anchored. The challenge here is getting enough bait to keep the flow going. Another option we use in tournament fishing is a constant drip of menhaden oil. Using a bag like an IV bag you can have a slow drip continually putting scent in the water as you troll. It’s great for covering ground and still helps to bring fish to you at the same time. Unfortunately, menhaden oil has become a bit pricey.
These techniques work great, but on tournament days I believe there is so much scent in the water that they become less effective. So, now my new go to is to add an extra sensory stimulation in the form of eye candy. Specifically, a Fish Razr mylar dredge. Made of reflective strips that look like a school of bait, they shine like an underwater disco ball. Plus they are easy to use and reusable so they are cost effective. Simply attach them to a kite rod or cleat and toss them over the side. I’ve literally had fish in my spread within seconds of deploying the dredge.
For baits I do prefer big blue runners, but sometimes they can be hard to come by. A good trick when big baits are sparse is to double up smaller baits, like sardines or threadfins. I use two hooks wired about 5 inches apart with a stinger off the second to create a larger profile offering. I believe the added flash of multiple baits helps as well.
For tackle I like 20 to 30 pound trolling gear like a Shimano Terez medium action rod with Talica A 16. For years we went very light on our tackle thinking that kings had soft mouths and needed to be babied. While they are somewhat more delicate, a big fish is tough and you still need gear that can do the trick. This setup has a light enough tip and silky smooth drag to help absorb the initial hit but plenty of backbone to battle a hardier smoker king. A mono top shot also helps with that opening blow.
For me the key to kingfish fishing is to combine looking for them while also having them look for me. Adding the dredge to my spread is a real gamechanger.
Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. Follow Will on Instagram @saltynstrong.