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Jupiter & Palm Beach Offshore Saltwater Fishing Report
Capt. Rob Mazzei
April 8, 2005
Jupiter - Saltwater Fishing Report
King's of Spring!
What is that? Someone proclaimed as a dark colored, torpedo shaped predator sliced its way across the surface in the direction of a blue runner we had presented on a flat line. While I had a pretty good idea what was causing the disturbance, I pretty sure that blue runner was aware of what it was as he could sense he was in big trouble. Just as I muttered it’s most likely a “king or cuda”, the kingfish like a surface air missile cleared the waters surface and seemed to smile at us as he snatched the baitfish tail first. Hoping to cut it in half to immobilize it, the kingfish will usually then turn back to finish it’s snack. And boy was he surprised.
It was us who had the last laugh that time because the #3 “stinger” hook had took hold of the king before could perform his hit and run on the other live baits we had out. No necessity for a “drop back”, the fight was on as line and sweat poured from reel and angler respectively. After a minute or two the line went slack but I instructed the weary fisherman to reel as fast as he could. Sometimes after the initial long run of a big king, it will turn and swim back toward the boat. This is when a high-speed retrieve reel finds its place, as it allows one the ability to retrieve line faster and come tight with the fish before it has a chance to shake the hook. He caught up to find the fish still on and ready for its second run. I’m not sure if the angler was happy or sad at that point but he would remember that fish for sure.
Some argue big kings are called “smokers” because most end up cooked in a smoker for Sunday barbeque, while others says it’s because they’ll smoke the drag on the reel. I can attest that if you place your thumb on the spool with reel in free spool when a big king hits you will burn your thumb worse than from a cigarette lighter on the 4th of July.
King Mackerel (a.k.a. kingfish) a migratory, schooling fish may reach ninety pounds with the average being ten to thirty pounds and fish to forty to fifty common in the spring. Kingfish are capable of making spectacular leaps, clearing the water’s surface by many feet. While the may be caught on any given day in Southeast Florida, kingfish prefer water temperatures around seventy to seventy-five degree Fahrenheit.
During the springtime, baitfish migrations coupled with optimal water conditions produce a spectacular king mackerel fishery that attracts anglers to Palm Beach from all other the state. From south to north, Boca Raton to Jupiter some of the prime locations for larger king mackerel are off Sam Reno, Del Rey water tower, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Lake Worth pier, the Bath and Tennis Club, Breakers Hotel, Lost Tree, Juno Ledge, Jupiter Ledge and the Loran Tower ledge. These locations refer to bottom structure and landmarks used to approximate the boats location when offshore. Offshore meaning less than one to six miles from shore.
Water depth of seventy to ninety feet is always a good starting point, but kings can be schooled in one hundred thirty or more just as well, especially during the full moon period.
At typical day generally begins with the ritual of finding and catching live bait. Spanish sardines, cigar minnows, threadfin herring, pilchards, blue runners and goggle eyes are most commonly sought after bait and are a primary food source of king mackerel. We’ll look for them in water depth from 5-60 feet depending on water conditions. Although not very abundant in the cooler months, large influxes of bait schools will generally begin to occur in late March or early April, but they may show up at any given time. It pays to have a designated bait rod ready at all times.
Bait schools may be located by looking for seabird activity on the water’s surface or by watching your fish finder. Off Palm Beach there is no shortage of boats, although not as sportsman-like as finding you own bait schools, a bunch of boats grouped tightly together close to shore usually means someone found the bait for you. Be conscious not to speed right up to the fleet, idle in and watch you sonar and join the crowd.
Once a concentration of baitfish in confirmed, one can either cast net them or catch them on live bait rigs called “sabiki”. Cast netting bait in water deeper then 15-20 feet is difficult without a large heavy net.
The sabiki rig in sizes 8 and 10 are most commonly used but larger sizes will be needed for blue runners and goggle eyes. We’ll have 2 or 3 bait rods going at once to ensure the live well gets full in short order.
Deploying live bait is a relatively simple process. Start out with a spinning or conventional outfit spooled with 12-30lbs. test line. I attach a 12-18 foot length of 30-60lbs. monofilament leader using a “spider hitch” and “no name knot”. At the business end I’ll tie in a short strand of #3-5 copper wire with an “Albright knot” or a small barrel swivel. Depending on the size of the baitfish being used, a “live bait hook” from size 1/0-5/0 will work, with 3/0 probably being most common. Different weight egg sinkers can be used to stagger the bait at various depths. When the kings are really turned on they’ve been known strike the egg sinker cutting off the leader. A “break away” sinker can be secured to the leader using a rubber band to prevent cut-offs.
At times the use of a “stinger rig” in needed because of short strikes and the kings are cutting the bait in half. This is essentially a trailer hook rig, #3 or #4 sizes, extra strong treble hook secured to the eye of the main hook with a 3-5 inch strand of #5 wire using a haywire twist and barrel wrap. The main hook gets placed in the nose of the baitfish and the trailer hook is place near the tail. Be sure the bait swimming motion is not restricted in any manner.
The use of only live bait is by no means the only way to catch “smoker kings”. Having a box or two of frozen baits and chum on board is wise in the event live bait is scarce that day.
One favorite method is a jig and ballyhoo combination. Take a 1-2oz. bucktail jig with a 6/0 open eye trailer eye attached to the bend of the jig hook so they’re inline, then break it’s bill off and secure the ballyhoo so it’s straight with one hook in the belly and jig hook under the jaw. Send the combo down to the bottom and jig it in a hopping motion should result in a strike. Many bites will come as the bait is sinking so be ready or a burned thumb, missed strike or backlash may occur.
Another common technique for kingfish is the triple rigged dead sardine, similar the jig combo where two or three 6/0 or 7/0 open eye hooks are attached together inline with each other. The two trailer hooks are placed in the body of the bait with the main hook going through the nose or eye socket. It is paramount that the bait is straight and does not spin. Let the bait out slowly and from time to time jerk the rod tip to give the bait a fluttering action. After paying out a hundred or so feet of line reel in the bait with a stop and go method and start again. Kings will take the bait at any time so always be ready. Chumming with cut bait will attract attention to your baits as well.
Give any one of these methods a try in the traditional kingfish “hot spots” mentioned and you should have no doubt understanding why king mackerel are the true “kings of spring” in Palm Beach!
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