Kings picking at bait

[mike2153]

Just wondering if anyone has encountered the kingfish picking at a your bait, today I had tem around the picking a freshly caught squid head and strips, jut peckig at them non stop, not actually taking bites out, got my squid gear out tied a hook on with 6lb line and they did the exact same thing, squid head pinned through a 4/0 hook no sinker or anything just line then hook.

[tasksta]

Yup they are either 'on or off'. I find when they are tentative you can switch them 'on' with a popper, jig or plastic. They aren't shy and thrive on the action.

[mike2153]

Mate I threw a jig down over the top of em and they didn't want a bar of it it was weird

[Krispy !]

Mate I threw a jig down over the top of em and they didn't want a bar of it it was weird

go down to a size 8-10 hook and put the tiniest bit of squid unweighted. If they dont hit that then they just have lock jaw.

[Guest Aussie007]

there use to be a nice fishing spot at port kembla at the tug boat wharf its around 2-3m above water level and one morning we seen a few kings from memory about 6-7 just casually swimming around with the yakkas and other little fish, we dropped baits down they would just mouth it than spit it back out and keep doing it all morning as frustrating as it was we would have never landed one if hooked as it would have gone strait under the wharf

[Yowie]

As Krispy stated, try a small bait on a small hook.

Drop over a few baits, and your baited hook amongst that lot, sometimes the kings will lose concentration and grab your bait, so you have to be quick to strike otherwise the bait will be spat out.

Also try a strip of squid or fish fillet on a small hook, hiding the hook in the bait. When the king almost grabs the bait, jig the bait away from it with a few small movements, it may induce the king to have a go. Again will need to strike quickly.