Kingfish on Live Bait

Target Species

Fishing Tips

1. 1

   The best live baits for kingfish are slimy mackerel (yellowtail), squid, and large yakkas — catch your own fresh livies on the day using small sabiki rigs over schools of baitfish before heading to the reef.

2. 2

   Hook a livebait through the nose with a 5/0–7/0 hook and allow it to swim freely on a controlled-depth drift above the reef — kingfish almost always hit on the way down when the bait is panicking.

3. 3

   Set the drag lighter than you think is necessary — kingfish on livebait run faster and harder than when jig-hooked, and a tight drag on the first run will result in a bust-off or pulled hook on 8 out of 10 fish.

4. 4

   When livies are scarce, a whole freshly caught squid hooked through the mantle and allowed to drift on a slow retrieve is the next best thing and often produces bigger fish than live fish baits.

5. 5

   Anchor or slow-drift over the top of a known reef mark at first light and drop the livebait straight down — kingfish patrol the top of pinnacles in the early morning and a bait presented at the right depth will be taken immediately.

Gear Setup