Swimming Mullet
Swimming Mullet
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Amberjacks, Kingfish, Kingi's and Yellowtails
Amberjacks, Kingfish, Kingi's, Yellowtails or whatever you call them, there is no doubting the thrill of having 70 to 100 pounds of fish on your hook with your line screaming. These fish all belong to the family Seriola and should not be confused with the much smaller fish the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla).which is also often times referred to as a Kingfish. The Amberjack / Kingfish is rated as amongst the most powerful fish in its size class.
The Family to which Amberjacks / Kingfish belong can be found around the world in temperate and tropical seas. Arguably the best eating are those fish which have spent time in cooler waters. Not only do they tend to be a heavier fish but also do not contain the parasites and toxins often associated with fish caught in the tropics.
On our Eastern Coast the Amberjacks range from Nova Scotia, Canada to Brazil, In fact all around the world various members of the Seriola (Amberjacks) Family can be found between latitudes 45°N and 42°S.
At the extreme ends of the latitudes given above, the Amberjacks are only present once water temperatures exceed 18°C (64°F) as they follow bait fish to the cooler waters with their rich food sources.
Amberjacks love structure whether it is rocks, kelp, buoys, Oil rigs or wherever bait fish congregate. For the boat fisherman Amberjacks can be found around offshore islands, rocky pinnacles in deep water and Oil rigs and are relatively easy to track down.
Amberjacks eat a variety of food items including Mackerel, Kahawai, Mullet, Squid, Octopus and many other free swimming fish species. In fishing for Amberjacks I have not had much luck using Wrasse or herrings as bait.
For the surf fisherman Amberjacks are not quite so easy to locate or catch. Fishing reports for an area will make mention of Amberjacks and at what times of the year they appear. Sometimes they will be there feeding off the coast and at other times schools of them will venture deep into harbours allowing wharf/ pier fishermen the thrill of hooking into these powerhouses of the deep.
For the surf fisherman a rocky ledge with deep water at your feet is an ideal place to start, as this opens up a whole raft of opportunities to attract and catch Amberjacks.
Basically in this situation any good quality high spec rod will work extremely well, when fishing off of a rock ledge into deep water even a big game boat rod does it for me. For the really big ones I usually pack a harness and some rock anchors just so the fish or the waves will not put me into the briny. I like a reel that I can pack 200 – 300 yards of 80 pound braid with at least 6 ball bearings, anything less will be suspect. As for leaders I attach to the braid, using either back to back uni knots or the Berkley braid knot onto a swivel. My leader is 100 pound fluorocarbon line. The length of the leader varies a little depending on the conditions but is generally around 5 to 6 feet. If using a balloon I attach it to the swivel. Now the Hooks I like are 8/0 to 10/0 offset circle hooks, these hooks make live baiting relatively easy and hook-up seldom misses. Note position your hook with the barb facing forwards.
My tips are
- Create a chum or berley trail
- Fish with sabiki rigs to catch live bait fish
- If at all possible have a live bait tank of some sort even if it is a plastic bucket, and a small battery operated aquarium pump. NB you will only need to connect the battery whilst there are bait fish in your tank. An alternative is a wire or plastic mesh cage suspended in the sea, I have seen some collapsible cages that are easily transported to your fishing spot in your back pack – this cage setup does not need a pump but is really only successful in fairly calm conditions, otherwise it will be smashed on the rocks.
- Use plugs, spinners or in fact any lure that you can retrieve at speed. Protection of the rod tip is a great idea, as significant damage from a fast returning lure could scupper your days fishing.
- Balloons are great for suspending live or dead baits in the chum / berley feeding zone – note tailor the size of the balloon and its level of inflation to the wind speed and the size of the bait fish you have attached. A small bait fish with a large balloon on a very windy day will bounce your bait fish around so much it will not be alive too long or could even dislodge it from the hook, one trick I have used to gain more control over the balloon and live bait, is to attach a sinker directly below the balloon to control its behaviour, while still allowing the bait fish to swim relatively freely. Personally I only use balloons when there is a light to very light offshore breeze which lines up with the Chum/ berley trail.
- Because Amberjacks move with such speed have a rod ready to go with an artificial lure prior to starting your Chumming. It would be terrible waste to miss the opportunity to hook into a great fighting fish.
Read all the books you can get your hands on and internalize how to play a big fish. In the heat of the battle most things disappear from your mind. Life's greatest teacher is doing it. Each time you hook-up you handle the situation a little better.
I'll include a note here that more often than not your fish will take off into kelp or other rough ground...it is your job to keep him in clear water. Easier said than done I know.
I am currently on a working holiday down in New Zealand, looking forward to the summer and the arrival of the Kingfish (Amberjacks). In this country they are known as Kingi's or Yellowtails. A beautiful country if you get the chance of a holiday down here you must try Heli-Fishing, for an unforgettable experience.
And finally do not forget to pack your digital camera to record your trophies for posterity, whether you are fishing close to home or on the other side of the world, a photo will prove a point to your mates.
About the Author
Hi I'm Martin Wattleshill I have been surf casting around the world for over 40 years. All that stops me fishing is the weather the sea and of course the family. But I'm out there whenever time allows. Visit my website for Articles, books, Surf Fishing Rods, reels, line, hooks
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