Sometimes the kings will eat anything and have been known to take a live maomao or snapper, but usually they are frustratingly choosy and even though you see them swimming round the bait they will often ignore it.
It depends on where the fish are in the water column, but sometimes weâll fish hard on the bottom, other times in midwater. But you are keen to change that for something more respectable, and to head out into wider waters the locations below are well known producers of … Not only are kingfish great sport, they are also superb eating when handled correctly. It pays to either fish good bait sign or kingfish sign itself. âWhether you catch a kingfish or not. In the South Island, you can also fish for salmon in many places. In the South Island, you can also fish for salmon in many places. Aaron Covavich on the Leigh charter vessel Thor calls them âkingfish candyâ and loves dropping them on to the deep reefs around the Mokohinau Islands. Then comes kahawai, then piper then, finally, yellowtails. The same applies when dropping a bait into deep water, although there are two schools of thought on whether to fish with the reel in freespool and the thumb on the spool ready to react to the slightest pressure and let line slip out, or fish it with a hard drag. No pain, no gain. Then another reef saw Danâs first 4-kilo snapper bend the rod. Anyone who has ever battled one of these beautiful fish will tell you that they test your strength, technique and tackle to the limit but with the right preparation and a little bit of knowledge, any angler can become a successful kingfish fisho. If you are not plunging a bait down to the pins, but fishing inshore, trolling a live bait is a great option. var montharray=new Array("Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"); You have to remember that itâs one up and one down for each revolution of the reel. Some kingies will move with the bait whereas others will just hang around structure all the time. Early reports indicate there is some excellent fishing to be had this coming season. A kingfish, even a relatively small one, is extremely strong. Stand-up tackle is designed for fast short strokes, and the key is short strokes. The movement of the sticks seems to get the kingfish really going for it. Choose a jig colour or type that is different from the rest on the first drop. Kingfish are green on top with a white underside and a green-gold band from the nose through to the yellow tail. Donât be tempted to give up after a couple of hours then go snapper fishing. He worked the short Fin-Nor rod beautifully, and was not shy on taking instruction. That is, throw them at likely spots such as floating debris, pylons or buoys, headlands etc. Learn about kingfish and the status of the fishery. Between them they hold several records and have caught thousands of huge kingfish. People think, âoh my gosh, these are big heavy fishâ and they think they need big heavy trace and big hooks but thatâs wrong. Kingfish are a sensational species for sport fishermen, and we are very lucky that they can be found all over New Zealand, in fantastic numbers and sometimes gear shattering dimensions. Every river you cross is a fishing opportunity. You want your finger just on the braid when you cast.
Many new guys getting into jigging want to go big but thatâs not necessarily the best way. They can be found from inside harbours to offshore reefs 200 metres deep, and it is this widespread distribution that makes them so popular and easy to catch. Kahawai and trevally are well-suited to shoulder hooking. Even modest 25kg kingfish are going to take line off you, even with the very best gear.
Dinner time as the taxman attacks from below and on the surface leaving not much change for the angler, The sharks around the Coromandel pins have become more prevalent in recent times, and it is not uncommon to bring up just a head, once the affectionately known âtaxmenâ have had a go. But for those who donât have access to koheru, slimy mackerel are the next best thing and they are not far behind for the same reason. Â Try here and it's only a matter of time before....boom! You need to tailor everything to the size of the bait you are using. That goes for your braid and for leader. âThey fight deep and dirty and will head straight for any weed or rocks - and they never give up,â he says. "New Zealand is one of the world's great fishing countries. Depending on local conditions, there are various ways that are best to target these extraordinary gamefish.
Make sure the hook is set right away and get stuck in real quick.
Check out Reel Kiwi Fishermen on the hunt in the mangroves of the far north.
// The type of request. Be prepared to persevere and youâll get the rewards. By big I mean BIG. You have a strike! Â This is a very productive, but physically demanding way of targeting fish. As a rough guide only (some hook sizes vary according to brands), you can use the following hook-size list or look at the illustrations I’ve drawn for an idea on relative hook-to-fish ratios.
Here's the latest on the Lateral Line boat build. Then you have to look at your jig weight selection as part of that. Remember to drift right through the action. He shares how landbased fishermen across the country can... more >, Tony Orton often gets asked which drag system is best for catching kingfish – spin drag, lever drag or star drag. We know how important it is to have quality rods and reels but sometimes people forget about their terminal tackle. Unfortunately, its remote location and the lack of accurate information on how to get the most from a trip out there means many never actually give the Mokes a crack. In most instances there is little need for baits to be hooked anywhere but in — or close to — the head. If youâve got a king on for two minutes, you have around an 85 per cent chance of landing it. A long day on the water holding the braid when youâre casting can be hard going. However, don’t write off a spot just because it’s the cold season – good-sized kingfish will still be cruising around, but they generally won’t be present in substantial numbers.
2016 catch allowances (tonnes) Kingfish are managed under New Zealand… Be prepared that you might not come back with any but youâve got to really target them.
Kingfish are a popular recreational fish in New Zealand. Kingfish are managed under New Zealand's Quota Management System (QMS). If youâre very hard on the kingfish straight away, theyâll be very hard on you.
"New Zealand is one of the world's great fishing countries. With standard mackerel livebaits on circle hooks I fish with the drag set at strike. Some recent kingie fishing in the Bay of Plenty served to remind me, yet again, just how effective livebaits can be. data : dataString, sometimes found in areas with an open sandy bottom and in shallow enclosed bays.
Lever drag reels are easier to use than star drags, and will have a better drag system. Some places are well know kingfish haunts while others could be classed as opportunistic locations, like when coming across a work-up. However, the hook must be positioned so that it angles upwards and across the bait diagonally, or straight up and along the upper shoulder towards the head, as this help to avoid double-hooking here, too. If youâre not happy with them, re-tie them. Exceptions to this rule are when the livebait is large or when surface livebaiting. Â Gently zig zagging will vary the speed of the bait and give chasing fish a chance to hit.