Kingfish reefs

[intensehotdog]

Hi all,

Question, is the peak not as productive as it once was? All big offshore kingfish seem to be captured at 12 mile. Also this time of year where can kingies be found? Are they still in the outer reefs or would that have started to come in close to the headlands and closer reefs like longreef.

[JonD]

2 minutes ago, intensehotdog said:

Hi all,

Question, is the peak not as productive as it once was? All big offshore kingfish seem to be captured at 12 mile. Also this time of year where can kingies be found? Are they still in the outer reefs or would that have started to come in close to the headlands and closer reefs like longreef.

Did you see the post on here yesterday of a big harbour king ? You don't need to go far tho find kings and they can be found all year, with some years better than others. New Zealand which has some of the best kings fishing you could wish for are captured all year in colder water than you will get off Sydney. Summer will often see more numbers of the smaller fish.

[noelm]

There is a kind of interesting theory about a place being “fished out” fish like Kingfish are not “resident” as such, they move from place to place, so, in theory it’s impossible to catch all the Kingfish in a certain area……but, it’s claimed that “somehow” future generations know that their predecessors perished at this location and so, no longer hang around there….true/false? I really don’t know, but, it does sort of explain things……maybe.

[JonD]

13 hours ago, noelm said:

There is a kind of interesting theory about a place being “fished out” fish like Kingfish are not “resident” as such, they move from place to place, so, in theory it’s impossible to catch all the Kingfish in a certain area……but, it’s claimed that “somehow” future generations know that their predecessors perished at this location and so, no longer hang around there….true/false? I really don’t know, but, it does sort of explain things……maybe.

I've not heard that but the fact kingfish have been flogged so hard in my area by pro's, rec fishers and seals might account why the past two years have been dismal in regards to catches. 

[noelm]

3 minutes ago, JonD said:

I've not heard that but the fact kingfish have been flogged so hard in my area by pro's, rec fishers and seals might account why the past two years have been dismal in regards to catches. 

I am not 100% sure it’s fact, but the theory does make sense, and it does add up. A place near me called “the church ground” was a reliable place for Kingfish every winter, but over time it got “popular” and it was common for 40+ boats to be there, now I haven’t heard of one being caught for years, why? Constant pressure seems to back up the theory. A lot is said about Pros cleaning out a spot, but studies show this is not exactly correct. Once it becomes commercially unrealistic to fish a spot, they move on, whereas a rec fisher will continue to fish his “secret spot” for a very long time even when catching next to nothing, once again, true or false? It is a very interesting topic with lots of conflicting views, but personally, I think it’s pretty accurate.

[PaddyT]

The Peak still fires-traditionally ive done best there in late autumn, then the deeper reefs (12 mile etc) in winter /early spring-fish tend to be really fat then. However still caught them in close etc all year round. Bait and current are the keys as far as im concerned-then again i caught my one and only "big" yellowfin at the peak in about 1984 -didnt get weighed but was about 75lbs. Hasnt been many caught there since then-spots do change thats for sure.