Terry Lacoss
Hooking a speedy king mackerel challenges even the best of fishermen, landing one is a bigger challenge!
“We had played that big king almost within gaffing range when the small kingfish hooks pulled right at the very last second,” the disappointed king mackerel fisherman said. “We sure could have used a longer gaff than that eight-foot gaff we were using!”
I have listened to this same fishing story on several occasions from numerous king mackerel fishermen. Similar experiences can often result in losing a big money king mackerel which makes this unfortunate fishing experience even harder to bear.
On a few occasions, while competitively king mackerel fishing, I have had the opportunity to watch skilled king mackerel fishing teams hook, chase down and eventually land their hooked kingfish. It’s unbelievable what my Nikon D-300, 200mm zoom lens can see, even from great distances.
During the recently held 30th Annual Great Jacksonville Bell South Kingfish Tournament, I watched several Southern Kingfish Association kingfish teams chase down hooked king mackerel with the angler at the bow, with a second fishermen chasing it with a long, steel kingfish gaff.
One matter that was very evident, the angler at the wheel always pointed the bow of their kingfish boat at the hooked king mackerel, while giving just enough boat speed to keep the angler fighting the mackerel within a fairly short distance. Short enough so that when the kingfish suddenly surfaces, the angler with the long kingfish gaff would have the opportunity to lay the point of the kingfish gaff just behind the head of the mackerel, then strike the king with a short stroke of the gaff.
In some cases, we watched the kingfish fight go on and on and on! While it looked as though the hooked king mackerel was just about to be gaffed, it took off on yet another typical kingfish run! While in other cases, a big tournament sized kingfish was hooked and gaffed within a few minutes after the battle had started.
Through the many past SKA kingfish seasons, successful king mackerel fishermen have downsized their kingfish tackle in order to entice tournament size king mackerel to take a live or dead kingfish bait. Fishing lines have dropped from 30lb test, to 20lb test. Wire kingfish leaders have also been downsized. This is a deadly game that king mackerel fishermen are always playing, dropping their fishing line size and piano wire leader size down until they unfortunately begin to have wire leaders bitten into by the sharp teeth of the king mackerel, or an ultra light main fishing line is parted during a high speed kingfish run. Small kingfish hooks are always subject to loosening their grip when foul hooked on the side of a kingfish and holding onto by just a fragment of skin.
Taking all of this light tackle kingfish tactics into consideration, hooked kingfish are played with ultra fine drags set at their weakest advantage. When a kingfish makes that speedy getaway run, the kingfish rod is held high allowing the hooked king mackerel to showcase their speedy exit, ultimately running out of energy and a getaway plan.
At the end of the kingfish battle, high tension is built up in every king mackerel angler on board. The navigator eases up to the tiring king mackerel as it makes wide deep circles just below the surface. At this point everyone on board is peering deep into the water to hopefully get their first look at the size of the tiring king mackerel. Deep under the surface a long silvery fish begins to show its size as the sun’s rays shine on the silvery sides of the king mackerel.
Suddenly the kingfish beats its long, narrow tail like an egg beater, propelling the kingfish to the surface like a rocket. At the same time, the boat driver gives the outboard just enough throttle to put the gaffer in range of making a successful strike with his 12-foot, two-piece kingfish gaff.
The angler steps off to the side while maintaining constant rod pressure on the head of the king mackerel, allowing the gaffer to get into position. Keeping the gaff in a low position, the team member reaches way out over the water and positions the point of the 3-inch gaff just behind the head of the hooked kingfish. Seconds later, a short stroke is made with the gaff and the exhausted king mackerel is hauled into the kingfish boat, headfirst!
At this point you can always tell if the kingfish is a money winner as the kingfish team will definitely be showing signs of glory with high fives and shouts of success.
Dave Workman of Strike Zone fishing in Jacksonville, Florida is a multiple Southern Kingfish Association Angler of the Year title winner.
“I recommend the black Aftco two-piece, 12-foot kingfish gaff with the three-inch hook,” Workman said. “We also carry a second eight-foot gaff and when bringing over the side a real smoker we always use both gaffs. When gaffing a kingfish at the bow, a twelve-foot gaff works best and when gaffing along the side, the eight-foot gaff is a better choice.”
Dave Workman’s Strike Zone fishing offers same day shipping for all of their hunting and fishing tackle. Visit http://www.strike-zonefishing.com or call 904-641-2433.
Aftco also offers a lightweight, fiberglass kingfish gaff with a three-inch hook. In some cases a lightweight, flexible gaff is preferred over aluminum gaffs because they have some flex when a big king decides to take off when you stick it in the back with your gaff. That little bit of flex in the gaff helps keep the hook in the king instead of having the hook rip free when a rigid aluminum gaff is used.
A few seasoned king mackerel fishermen have custom built kingfish gaffs from fiberglass frog gigs.
Spro fishing tackle offers a lightweight extendable gaff that extends from forty-seven inches to eleven feet and is easy to store. Visit http://www.spro.com.
When king fishing first became popular, many of the gaffs designed to land sizeable king mackerel were bare aluminum that shined brightly on a sunny day. As king mackerel fishing techniques progressed, king mackerel fishermen began painting their gaffs black so they did not spook hooked kingfish into making a final dash for freedom!
While I often see fishermen holding their ready gaff in a high position, this also spooks kingfish! Hold the gaff in a low position, don’t wave that gaff at a hooked king mackerel!
Waiting for the right moment to stick a hooked kingfish with a long kingfish gaff is extremely critical in landing your catch. Always wait for the king to swim within gaffing range, wait until the king is swimming away from you and approach the king from the tail to the head. Lay the point of the gaff just behind the head and stick the king, using a short jerking motion. By gaffing the kingfish just behind the head, you will be able to lift the kingfish headfirst out of the water and onto the deck of your kingfish boat.
Gaffing a hooked kingfish behind the dorsal fin and towards the tail allows the gaffed kingfish to dive headfirst and rip the gaff free!
I am also a firm believer in sticking a big smoker with two gaffs like Dave Workman, then lift your money king mackerel onto the deck. If the barb of the gaff has penetrated a main artery, plug the hole with a rag, or better yet, a tampon.
Place your kingfish into a kingfish bag with a slurry of ice which will actually help the freshly caught kingfish gain weight!
Finally, always place a round cork float over the point of the gaff to avoid any nasty accidents. Strike Zone fishing also offers a premium gaff holder that offers both safety and storage for your kingfish gaffs.
Angler magazine, September 2010
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