There is simply no better experience while kingfishing than seeing a huge crash on the surface followed by a skyrocket shooting 8 feet out of the water with your bait seemingly balanced on its nose.
More often than not, that scenario occurs while anchored and chumming. Suspending bait beneath balloons while anchored serves a dual purpose. First, it keeps bait off the bottom; second, it allows you to track your bait and avoid a tangled mess while fishing four rods or more.
When deciding whether to troll or anchor, tidal flow is key. To get the most out of your chumming technique, a strong tide is preferred. Slivers of fresh-cut shad or particles from your chum blocks will have far-reaching effects on days of strong tidal movement. On slow tide days with little or no flow, bait often becomes as lethargic as the tide, making it less appealing to the aggressive kingfish.
For the next several days, trolling may be more productive than sitting still. Kingfish prefer a frisky, moving bait, and weak tides associated with Friday's first quarter moon phase won't offer much help in stretching your chum slick.
A quick study of a graphic tide chart will show which days have stronger flow, with those surrounding the new and full moons among the most active.
Gusty winds hampered getting to productive kingfish spots the last couple days, but when seas calm, look for the hard-bottom areas in 26 and 30 feet off Blind Pass to be a good bet for a smoker or two.
Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.
