Tackle Tactics Surfcasting Message Board

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Kingfish

Posted by whippersnapper <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=whippersnapper' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 27/8/2014, 7:30 pm

I want to target Kingfish this coming summer and am after some advice from experienced fishos.

Will an ordinary longcast surf reel handle multiple fights with kingfish? (Abu Cardinal 57 and Okuma lattitude 90)

If not what reel or reels would be best? Just better longcasts or will i need a big drag show pony reel?

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Phill <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Phill' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 27/8/2014, 8:39 pm, in reply to "Kingfish"
Tackle Tactics

At the lower cost end of the Fleuger Salt would take a lot of beating at just over $200. They are not a longcast reel but will well over a 100m . But if you are targeting kings live or slide baiting is probably will have a better out come.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Chad <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Chad' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 27/8/2014, 8:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Ive taken kingfish upto 22kg using 8kb mono on an Okuma Oryx, this is virtually the same reel you are looking to use. Allot of it comes down to the angler, over sand you can run a light drag providing there is no foul around, youve got all day.

On the cheeper reels in the past, like the Oryx, I button off the drag and use my hand on the spool. It gives me a good feeling of what the line will take before it breaks and this way I know the drag is not going to stick or be the reason i lose the fish.

When using cheep gear, the worst thing you can do is load it with heavy line and set it to sun set. One of the reasons expensive reels are costly is because the drag is much more robust and reliable in comparison to a cheeper reel.

Lastly, longcast spools are not ideal, but certainly do the job providing you don't over load them. Because the spool is so deep the shaft has to push the spool up quite high to lay the line. When fully extended, this is when the reel is at it's weakest point and you can damage the shaft under pressure. This will mainly happen though if you are using 15kg mono and above or braid as it over tests.

So, long story short. Your gear will do the job if you are up for it. But more expensive gear will allow you to make mistakes without it costing a trophy fish.

Cheers

Wairoa
Hawkesbay

Take Nothing For Granted

Re: Kingfish

Posted by hbsurfcasttonz <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=hbsurfcasttonz' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 28/8/2014, 6:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

I've caught a 17kg kingfish without much trouble with my daiwa crosscast 6000 for $150 you get a long cast spool and nice drag for some small mistakes good luck too aswell

Re: Kingfish

Posted by whippersnapper <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=whippersnapper' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 29/8/2014, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Would a topwater reel be any better? will they hold enough mono? Something like a shimano sustain 10000?

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Chad <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Chad' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 30/8/2014, 8:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Whats your budget Bro?

Wairoa
Hawkesbay

Take Nothing For Granted

Re: Kingfish

Posted by racepics <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=racepics' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 31/8/2014, 8:36 am, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

But do you need to cast very far to livebait a King?
I've never caught one but from what I've heard and seen they are often hooked up very close to shore.
If this is the case could you not use a shorter (LBG length) rod and a small overhead reel?
You should be able to cast a sinker 20-30m with that setup and slide your livey down it. Chad?

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Re: Kingfish

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/9/2014, 1:42 am, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

That would be fine in many instances but longer casting ability is an asset on many beaches. The drag is the important factor. I have had good success with my Pflueger Salt 80 reel and can cast that out over 100m.
It will get you more bites to have the extra distance.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by racepics <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=racepics' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/9/2014, 2:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

When slide-baiting I've found my baits don't venture very far out. You can cast your sinker out 70m+ but the baits never swim out that far. They tend to stay close to shore, at least that has been my experience. It could also be the reason I've never hooked a king

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Re: Kingfish

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/9/2014, 3:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Nah use a balloon. Its quite amusing watching a kingy splashing around a bait about a 100 m out. Will it? Wont it? In my case it didn't but theres alwsys next time.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by SNAPPA NAPIER <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=SNAPPA+NAPIER' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/9/2014, 7:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Some of the biggest kings you will ever hook will be within 10meters of the shoreline Chris

. When slide baiting WITHOUT a non return slider ill always keep the rod low pointing at the water for a minute or two letting the live bait move freely down the mainline to cover more ground rather than clip on and set straight away back into the rod holder. Balloons are fine when no wind to offshore wind conditions are present but try sending one out into a stiff onshore (F###king pain in the @rse). Favourite slide baiting hooks either Gamakatsu live bait in a 6/0 size or Mustad 8/0 Hoodlums. IMO best live bait in the surf for kings have to be a 25 to 30cm yellow eye mullet. 50lb Stren fluorocarbon or Blackmagic tough similar weight ample over clean relatively snag free ground. I use big btr Longcast reels and the drags a modest 12kg odd but like Chad said and with plenty of experience my self in long drawn out battles that drag needs to be loose and your fingers need to be your brake, as kingfish are known for really big flashes of speed at unpredictable moments, and to avoid snapping them off if the drags too firm on light line this will happen. Give them too much line and they will run and run and run until that spools empty in no time at all. That is truly what makes these fish the most exhilarating surf caught species. It took me an hour and a half to land my pb 34kg fish on tested line of 6.8kg and that was an absolute un relenting battle to the end , which i will never ever forget. Get into them give it heaps!!

Re: Kingfish

Posted by AndyG <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=AndyG' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 1/9/2014, 9:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

I gave slide baiting a decent crack last season with only kahawai caught as a result.. I use coastlock swivels,Is the ideal setup with them to use a large split ring above the sinker or is it fine to let the swivel hit the sinker? or does it not really matter?

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Chad <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Chad' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 2/9/2014, 1:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Chris, as Kane touched on, 90% of the kingfish ive caught slidebaiting have all been at my feet. All the baitfish are just behind the waves, thats where the kings are lurking. Not in the middle of no where 100 metres out. Coast locks are all you need, cheep and effective. When they get pushed right back in, thats for a very good reason so stand close to the rod.

Non-returns are to restricting and taking your fish away from the baitfish.

Wairoa
Hawkesbay

Take Nothing For Granted

Re: Kingfish

Whats your guys advice on tide?
Caught all your fish on one tide, or mainly wherever the baitfish are?
I find baitfish easier to catch on high and all kingfish I have caught (none on the beach) have been high tide.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 2/9/2014, 7:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

I thought the question was what do you do if you need to get the bait out a long way? Just out of curiosity are you kingfish experts saying no one ever uses ballons to catch kingfish? I'm sure Ive seen it done off the shore and on boats?

Re: Kingfish

Rex personally id only ever use balloons over foul ground to stop the liveys running into snags . Also saves fouling a sinker in that terrain as well. Over open clean bottom far easier to slide bait , and i have seen a very successful local fisher that catches a lot of kings during the summer near the esk mouth cast and freespool large yems, hooking the liveys near the anal fin . His hookups are usually within 10metres of the beach, often seeing the kings inhale the live baits . Wouldn't worry about the tides. The more baitfish activity the better the chance of success!.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/9/2014, 7:55 am, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

Low tide for kings. At low tide baitfish are consentrated and have no inshore hiding spots. Makes them easy to catch for bait too.
This has proven true over the last forty years that I have been chasing them. Particularly off the rocks. Have a look at your photos of kings caught over the years and you may note that it is low tide that you catch them. No reason why that should change now that we are fishing the beaches harder now.
My best last year took a yelloweyed mullet but kahawai are hardier and just as attractive. Best bait overall in my opinion is a trevally. Piper are second. I personally use Gamakatsu circle hooks in sizes to suit the bait I am using.
I use a two bait system off the beach. Sinker is cast a hundred metres and my first bait is slid on a non return slider. It can go to the sinker if it wants to. Another bait is slid but this time is on a longer leader which has a float at the top. THis bait slides to the strike zone and the bait is held there by the float and the non return slider. This bait covers the area that chad refers to just behind the wave break.
Balloons are used when big baits are eployed or when there is a good offshore wind, dead baits can be used then too.
Thats my take on it.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Kingfish

Posted by Chad <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Chad' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/9/2014, 2:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Kingfish"

key points keep resurfacing.

Spent time doing it near a river mouth for best results. If the kahawai are running............ so is everything else

Yellow eyed mullet, small kahawai are excellent

November to March for consistant results, fish will be there at other times of the year, but tougher to get.

But most importantly, dont get caught up thinking you have to send it out miles. I genuinely mean it, the kingfish are close and I see 90% of the kings smashing the baits just behind the waves.

Forget about everything else, keep it very simple without over analysing it and you will succeed. Like everything to do with fishing, it all comes down to time on the waters edge and persistency .

Wairoa
Hawkesbay

Take Nothing For Granted

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