Fishing

Landlubber forecast

Do you want to catch a king mackerel? You're in luck, because the season is heating up.

And, so long as you have the proper tackle, there are a few places you can hook up without a boat.

Most experienced anglers who catch kings from shore use a two-rod technique called "outrigging," a hybrid system that combines kite and outrigger fishing. Here's how it works:

The guide line or outrigger is used to get the bait out. This is accomplished by using a 20-pound spinning outfit on a medium/heavy 7-foot rod. A 6- or 8-ounce egg sinker is tied about 12 inches from the end of the line, where a No. 1 treble hook is tied. The idea is to cast the treble hook as far as possible and snag the bottom. After the bottom is snagged, the rod is placed in a 5-foot PVC pipe that serves as a rod holder. Longer rod holders are best because they get the guideline higher above the water, which also helps get the bait farther from the pier or bridge and any line-cutting pilings.

The main line or outfit is used to fight the fish. It usually is a heavy-duty rig that holds at least 300 yards of 50-pound monofilament. Unlike the 20-pound traditional kingfish outfit boaters use, fighting a 30-pound king from a fixed location requires tougher tackle. Eight-foot grouper rods are common for this, and the outfits are fastened to the pier railing with a clamp-on rod holder or just tied on with anchor line.

To complete the outfit, a wire leader or "stinger rig" is used to hook the bait. This usually is a 2-foot piece of No. 5 or No. 6 coffee-colored wire leader with a No. 7 swivel on one end and a No. 3 J-hook on the other.

Attached to the J-hook, through the eye of the hook, is another piece of the same wire with a No. 2 extra-strong treble hook or "stinger" that hangs along the bait's side. It is this stinger hook that usually catches the fish. The length of the stinger varies depending on the size of the bait, with the treble hook placed just in back of the dorsal fin of the bait.

To connect the two lines, a homemade outrigger clip is used. This device consists of a 12-inch piece of 50-pound monofilament. At one end a 200-pound snap swivel is tied or crimped on with sleeves. A 4-ounce egg sinker is attached in the middle. At the other end a regular downrigger clip is fastened. The weight helps slide the bait down the guideline to the strike zone.

Cast out the guide line and snag it on bottom. Attach the snap swivel from the outrigger clip on the guideline. Hook the bait sideways through the nose, and place the main line in the downrigger clip about 4 feet above the bait. Gently slide the bait down the guide line until it flutters just below the water's surface.

For great bait, try a gold-hook bait rig.

The most preferred bait probably is a blue runners. These are extremely hardy and can swim for quite a while.

Round scad or cigar minnows are kingfish candy. They're hard to find inshore, but well worth the effort. Other prime baits are ladyfish, Spanish sardines, scaled sardines, threadfin herring, shad and Atlantic bumpers, also known as pumpkinseeds.

The Redington Long Pier is by far the best spot. This pier extends well into the gulf and is located over live, rock bottom. The fishing piers along the Sunshine Skyway also produce kings in the 40-pound range. The north pier might be favored by a bit, but both allow you to get the job done.

The piers at Ft. DeSoto produce kings too. There may not be as many fish as at Redington or the Skyway, but when the others spots are crowded, don't overlook Ft. DeSoto.