Trolling Techniques for Catching Kingfish: Tips for Success

Trolling for kingfish (king mackerel) is one of the most effective and exciting techniques for offshore anglers. Known for their aggressive behavior and lightning-fast runs, kingfish provide a thrilling challenge for those who target them. Trolling allows you to cover vast areas of water, increasing your chances of locating schools of these powerful fish. The right trolling techniques, gear, and bait can make all the difference in a successful kingfish fishing trip.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best trolling techniques for kingfish, focusing on the best methods, gear, and tips to help you land one of these prized fish. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a beginner, these strategies will improve your chances of catching kingfish and enhance your trolling experience.

Best Trolling Techniques for Kingfish

Trolling is a proven method for catching kingfish because it allows you to cover large areas of water while presenting baitfish or lures at the perfect depth. Kingfish are predatory and aggressive feeders that often hunt in schools of bait fish. By trolling with the right bait and lures, you can mimic the movement of their natural prey, which entices them to strike.

Kingfish are fast swimmers, and they often hunt baitfish near the surface or within the top 20 feet of the water column. Trolling provides an excellent way to present baits at these depths while keeping them in the fish’s strike zone, making it one of the most effective techniques for catching kingfish offshore.

Best Gear for Trolling Kingfish

Having the right gear is essential for successful kingfish trolling. Since kingfish are fast, powerful, and known for their aggressive strikes, your equipment needs to be strong enough to handle their speed and strength.

1. Trolling Rod and Reel

A medium to heavy action trolling rod is ideal for kingfish. Look for a rod that is 7 to 8 feet long with a fast action tip to provide sensitivity and quick hook-setting power. Pair the rod with a conventional reel or a trolling reel that can handle heavy line and a smooth drag system.

• Tip for Anglers: Choose a reel with a strong drag system and a large line capacity to handle the fast runs of a kingfish. A reel with 20-30 pound test line capacity is ideal for most kingfish trolling situations.

2. Fishing Line

For trolling kingfish, braided line is the best option. It’s strong, sensitive, and has minimal stretch, allowing you to feel even the slightest bites and maintain control during fast runs. A 30-50 pound test braided line is typically recommended for kingfish trolling.

• Tip for Anglers: Use a fluorocarbon leader in the 40-60 pound range. Fluorocarbon is less visible in the water and is abrasion-resistant, which is important when kingfish are striking lures or live bait.

Hooks, Terminal Tackle, and Kingfish Rigs

For trolling with live bait, use circle hooks in the 5/0 to 7/0 size. Circle hooks are ideal because they tend to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth, reducing the chances of deep hooking and increasing the fish's chances of being released unharmed.

When trolling with artificial lures, ensure the hooks are sharp and of sufficient size to handle a kingfish.

• Tip for Anglers: For trolling with lures, use a treble hook for better hook-up chances when using diving plugs or similar lures.

Live Bait and Lures

Kingfish are aggressive predators, and they’ll go after a wide range of bait and lures. The two main types of trolling setups are live bait trolling and artificial lure trolling:

• Live Bait: Live menhaden, sardines, or mullet are perfect choices for kingfish. They mimic the natural prey of kingfish and entice them to strike. Blue runners and threadfin herring are also excellent choices for live bait, attracting larger kingfish. When live bait is not available, frozen cigar minnows can be a great alternative.

• Artificial Lures: Kingfish are attracted to lures that mimic the movement of smaller fish. Popular lures for kingfish include spoons, diving plugs, and large swimbaits.

• Tip for Anglers: When trolling with live bait, hook the baitfish through the nose or back to ensure it swims naturally. For artificial lures, use colors like silver, blue, or chartreuse, which are known to attract kingfish. Monitor your fish finder to locate bait schools, as kingfish are often found nearby.

Best Trolling Techniques for Kingfish

Trolling for kingfish can be an effective way to cover large areas of water and target fish in different depths. Here are the best trolling techniques for kingfish that will help you maximize your chances of success:

1. The "Kingfish Spread"

The “kingfish spread” involves trolling several baits or lures at different depths and distances to increase your chances of attracting fish. This method covers a wide area of the water column and helps you locate where the kingfish are feeding.

• How to Do It: Troll a spread of baits, with some close to the surface and others deeper. Using specialized kingfish rigs with wire leaders and appropriate hook configurations can enhance your success. Use outriggers to set the lines further apart, and deploy your baits at different distances from the boat (typically 50-100 feet from the transom). You can also use downriggers or planers to get your baits to the right depth.

• Tip for Anglers: Set one or two lines with live bait close to the boat, and use lures or dead bait on the other lines at varying distances to mimic the presence of multiple baitfish in the area.

Slow Trolling: Adjusting Speed and Depth

Kingfish are fast swimmers, and adjusting your trolling speed and depth can help you match the pace of the fish and their feeding behavior. Generally, trolling speeds of 5-7 knots work well for kingfish, but it’s important to adjust based on water conditions, bait behavior, and whether you’re using live bait or lures.

• How to Do It: Start by trolling at a speed of 5-6 knots and adjust if needed. For lures, use a faster trolling speed (6-7 knots) to create more movement and flash. For live bait, a slower trolling speed (4-5 knots) works best to keep the baitfish swimming naturally. Slow trolling at 4-5 knots is particularly effective when using live bait, as it keeps the baitfish swimming naturally.

• Tip for Anglers: Use a depth finder or fish finder to locate where kingfish are holding. Adjust your trolling depth by using downriggers, planer boards, or weighted lines to keep your bait in the strike zone.

3. Trolling with a Mixed Spread of Lures

A mixed spread of lures and live bait is an effective way to catch kingfish, as it offers a variety of prey types. The flash of a lure can attract fish from a distance, while the scent and movement of live bait will entice fish that are closer to the boat.

• How to Do It: When trolling with a mixed spread, use larger lures (like spoons or diving plugs) on some lines, and live bait or dead bait on others. Incorporating natural baits like pilchards and threadfin herring can increase your chances of attracting kingfish. Spread them out to cover more of the water column, with some lines set close to the surface and others deeper.

• Tip for Anglers: Use a combination of natural colors (like silver, white, or blue) and bright colors (like chartreuse or orange) to attract kingfish. Bright colors can work especially well on overcast days or in murky water.

4. Diving Lures and Plugs

Diving lures or plugs are perfect for trolling at deeper depths, where kingfish are likely to be hunting. These lures dive as you troll, mimicking the movement of small fish, and are highly effective at targeting fish that are holding deeper in the water column.

• How to Do It: Use a deep-diving plug or lure when trolling near reefs, wrecks, or drop-offs where kingfish are often found. Spanish mackerel can be used as bait when trolling near reefs and drop-offs to attract larger kingfish. Set your lines with divers at various depths to find where the fish are feeding. The deeper the lure dives, the closer it should be to the structure.

• Tip for Anglers: Adjust the depth of your diving lures using downriggers or weighted lines if you don’t have a deep-diving lure. Kingfish are often found near the bottom in these areas, especially when the water temperature is higher.

5. Changing Course to Trigger Strikes

If you’re trolling and you get a bite, don’t be afraid to change your course to help set the hook. Kingfish are fast and will often strike hard and fast. By turning the boat in the direction of the strike, you can increase your chances of a solid hookset.

• How to Do It: When you get a strike, immediately make a turn away from the fish to help set the hook. Tournament anglers often change course immediately after a strike to help set the hook and increase their chances of landing the fish. This helps keep tension on the line and gives the hook time to set in the fish’s mouth.

• Tip for Anglers: Once the fish is hooked, maintain consistent pressure and let the drag work as the fish makes its runs. Be prepared for multiple, fast runs, as kingfish often try to escape quickly after being hooked.

Best Time to Troll for Kingfish

Kingfish are most active during warmer months, typically from spring through fall. However, they can be caught year-round in some areas, particularly in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States.

• Best Time to Fish: Kingfish are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, especially when the water is cooler and the sun is lower. They are also more aggressive during the incoming and outgoing tides when food is moving.

• Best Seasons: Kingfish fishing is at its peak during late spring through early fall, when water temperatures are ideal for these fish to feed aggressively.

Conclusion

Trolling for kingfish is one of the most effective methods for targeting this fast and powerful species. By using the right gear, adjusting your techniques, and trolling at the right speed and depth, you can increase your chances of a successful kingfish catch. Whether you're trolling with live bait, using diving lures, or setting up a mixed spread, these trolling techniques will help you land more kingfish and make the most of your offshore fishing trips.

FAQs

What speed should I troll for kingfish?

A trolling speed of 5-7 knots is ideal for kingfish. Adjust the speed based on the bait you’re using, with live bait requiring a slower trolling speed (4-5 knots) and lures needing a faster speed (6-7 knots). Catching live bait before you start trolling can significantly improve your chances of success, as live bait is more enticing to kingfish.

What type of lures are best for trolling for kingfish?

Spoons, diving plugs, and swimbaits are effective lures for kingfish. Bright colors like chartreuse and silver work well in attracting kingfish. Using a sabiki rig to catch smaller baitfish can provide you with fresh, live bait for trolling.

How deep should I troll for kingfish?

Kingfish can be found in the top 20 feet of the water column. Use downriggers, planer boards, or weighted lines to adjust the depth of your baits, especially near reefs or drop-offs. King mackerel fishing often requires adjusting your trolling depth to match where the fish are holding, especially near structures.

What is the best time of day to troll for kingfish?

The best times to troll for kingfish are early in the morning and late in the afternoon, especially during the cooler hours when kingfish are more active. Experienced kingfish anglers know that these times are optimal for trolling and increasing their chances of a successful catch.

How do I handle a kingfish after catching it? Tips on Catching Live Bait

Kingfish have sharp teeth, so handle them carefully. Use pliers or a dehooking tool to remove the hook and wear gloves to protect yourself from injury.