Outdoors

Large kingfish arrive on our doorstep

By DOUG HEMMER, Times Correspondent
Published October 19, 2007

The beginning of the kingfish run has moved into our area. The lead fish in the migration are large - in the 30- to 40-pound class - and most anglers call them "smokers." They have the ability to burn 200 yards of line off the reel in less than 10 seconds.

The trick to hooking a smoker is to use large baits: large blue runners, ladyfish and mackerel are preferred. Most of the kings will be around the mackerel schools close to shore. Have a double or triple stinger rig ready. Cast a small spoon where you see mackerel striking the surface and use a fast retrieve. Reel the mackerel to the boat and have someone ready to replace the spoon with the stinger rig.

Then deploy the mackerel 20 feet behind the boat and slow troll where the mackerel schools are feeding. Use 20-pound test line and a large reel that can hold 300 yards of line. You won't catch a lot of kings, but the ones that strike these big baits will be large.

The mackerel have been plentiful over the hard bottom that runs from Egmont key to Clearwater. As long as the wind blows out of the east, the mackerel should stay close to shore. The best way to target the mackerel is to use live whitebait. Stuff your live well with bait and follow the beach until you see birds working the surface. Then look under the birds to see if mackerel are striking the surface.

When you see the strikes, start tossing handfuls of live whitebaits to the mackerel. They should start feeding on your baits. Rig a lightweight rod with 30-pound leader and a long-shank hook and cast it into the action. Keep throwing live baits into the action so the mackerel won't leave.

Most of the mackerel schools will have sharks hanging nearby. Use a chunk of mackerel and rig it to a large reel that has a wire leader. Free-line the mackerel chunk behind the boat if you want to tangle with one of the sharks.

The redfish action has been outstanding along most of the mangrove shorelines and swash islands. The best action will be near the mullet schools. Pinfish under a cork will get their attention. The best way to get the school feeding is to chum them with live whitebait. Throw handfuls of bait around the mullet until you get some surface strikes. Cast the baits where you see the strikes.

Trout are feeding in 3 to 4 feet of water that have a mixture of sand and grass. We are catching them on dark green jigs worked close to the bottom. Cast the jigs where the sand meets the grass. Work the jig slowly along the grass line and set the hook when you feel a thump.

[Last modified October 18, 2007, 19:49:46]