A few suggestions:
- Timing is essential for the AM king run. Be at the pier in the water before daybreak - 5AM or so. You can catch the bigger smokers anytime but the schoolies and snakes roam close in the AM.
- Too much jewelry is bad news as kings have large eyes and can be leader shy. Use the least amount of wire and small kingfishswivels;I use 12 inches or so. You can add floro as a leader for abrasion.
- Learn to tie the 10 minute kingfish rig. I looked for the instructions online but could not find. I think I have the info in a mag somewhere. I'll scan and send if I can find it. BTW - solid wire is OK but I prefer seven-strand. Use 4x hooks.
- Live hardtails will swim back to structure if freelined in light current. If so, keep them closeon the hook in the water ready to cast or put them out on a balloon. I prefer cigars since, even when dead, you can make them look lively. BIG POINT - If a bait looks like crap, change it out. A wallowed/hollowed out cigar minnow won't entice a anything.
- Hook the bait correctly, I hook through the nose (nostril to nostril) and not the lips. They live longer.
- Let the fish eat. Too often people get a king interested, he follows, then the bait is pulled away. This also applies to the kingfish slash. Often, kings slice off the rear end of the bait then circle for the final munch. If they slash, the bait is supposed to be disabled - don't pull it away.
Kings aren't hard to catch, but you have to do the wait thing from the pier. I've found the best times are between full or new moons, southeast wind, clear water withwave action. I'm no pro but I certainly have caught my share of kings.
Two big smokers last year - 55lbs and 35lbs...released the rest.
