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Thread: King mackerel

  1. #1
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    Default King mackerel

    Went down Sunday and didn’t have any luck on the kings. My grandpa and I had good luck years ago with planers and about 6 foot of 50 pound mono going back to a 40 pound wire leader with number 2 trebles and a duster in front of them. For bait we used menhaden with the stinger hook loose about an inch in front of the tail. We also rigged a few rods without planers but had the same wire leaders and put them in the spread as well. We trolled at around 2 to 4 mph. This is exactly what we did Sunday early in the morning without any luck. Ended up putting some Clark spoon mackerel trees behind the planers and let the woman reel in some decent Spanish.

    What do you guys pull? Not looking for trade secrets just curious what I could do differently, or if I’m doing something dead wrong.
    Last edited by SpottailSpecialist; 07-03-2019 at 10:23 AM.
    A fish bites 2 times a day, right before I get to the water, and as soon as my boat gets back on the trailer.

  2. #2
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    I've caught a pile of kings on a stretch 25

  3. #3
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    2-4 mph is a little fast to pull live menhaden. Next time you could try a little slower so the bait can swim. For artificials a drone spoon behind the planer should work.

  4. #4
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    I haven’t spent much time targeting them but found the easiest to be pulling stretch plugs as JWS mentioned or larger trolling spoons off a planer board or trolling weight.

  5. #5
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    Cisco Kid

    But slow trolling menhaden is best.
    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrother View Post
    I can eat a bowl of alphabet soup and shit out a thought process better than the vast majority of you clemmings.

  6. #6
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    I’ll have to pick up some drone spoons and stretch 25’s before I go back. And the hand full of times I went with my grandpa he always liked trolling menhaden. Maybe I need to slow down the troll. What speed would be ideal?
    Last edited by SpottailSpecialist; 07-03-2019 at 11:23 AM.

  7. #7
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    I’m no pro king fisherman, but we usually can pick up at least a couple trolling back in from bottom fishing in 80-100’. Usually run a rapala CD 18, drone spoon on a planer and two ballyhoo on top on sea witches. Might buy another rapala at some point drone spoon doesn’t get a lot of love. Trolling speed right around 6 kts.
    Last edited by scquackaddict; 07-03-2019 at 11:29 AM.
    More Ducks, Less People

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
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    King bite was about 10am to noon on Saturday and 3-6 pm after noon.

    Menhadded - 2 on Down rigger to Thermocline which was about 22' on Saturday in 60-80'. 3 on top.

    Slow troll rigs as you described around 1.5 mph
    Genesis 9;2

  9. #9
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    No planer, move as slow as the boat will go without having the menhaden pass the boat. Planer with spoons.
    Low country redneck who moved north

  10. #10
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    Seems I was moving way too fast.

  11. #11
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    Menhaden on downriggers, vary depth on each. 2 out back 50 or so yards and 1 about 10 yards back from the prop wash. If you have twin motors, leave 1 in neutral and the other only just fast enough to keep the boat going forward, 1-1.5 mph max. Too fast and the menhaden die quickly and begin to barrel roll. Find some nearby structure and ease past it, circling closer each time. Biggest thing is keep the bait fresh and go slow!
    every expert was once a beginner

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by SpottailSpecialist View Post
    Seems I was moving way too fast.
    Way too fast. Depending on your boat, you have to bump troll to go slow enough.
    Miner's Daughter's Coal Train 'Rosco'

    "The only human quality he lacks is speech" -Alfred Brehm




  13. #13
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    Lately, find bottom structure and rip a jig, popper or spoon across it and hang one. Dang nasty fish are everywhere.
    Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn't go so far as to call a dog filthy but they're definitely dirty. But, a dog's got personality. Personality goes a long way.


    You might take out a dozen before they drag you from your home and skull fuck you to death. Marsh Chicken 6/21/2013

  14. #14
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    Just walk in a tackle store and buy a simple King live bait rig for a few bucks.
    Hook your Menhaden on it and put it out behind the boat and go slow, bump it in and out of gear if you have to.
    If you don't get a strike, they aren't there. If you are in the Columbia/Irmo area, swing by and I will give you a few rigs already tied up

  15. #15
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    I got a shit load of them. I am done if you get toward the hole
    Gettin old is for pussies! AND MY NEW TRUE people say like Capt. Tom >>>>>>>>>/
    "Wow, often imitated but never duplicated. No one can do it like the master. My hat is off to you DRDUCK!"

  16. #16
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    I appreciate it fellas. I’m not sure when I might go try again, hopefully soon.
    A fish bites 2 times a day, right before I get to the water, and as soon as my boat gets back on the trailer.

  17. #17
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    "I'm just a victim of a circumstance"

  18. #18
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    That's a good one.
    Gettin old is for pussies! AND MY NEW TRUE people say like Capt. Tom >>>>>>>>>/
    "Wow, often imitated but never duplicated. No one can do it like the master. My hat is off to you DRDUCK!"

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by DRDUCK View Post
    That's a good one.
    From what I hear he should have fished the tournament Saturday he would have won
    "I'm just a victim of a circumstance"

  20. #20
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    Russell lure on sevenstrand.

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