Episode 540: Sydney Kingfish With Stuart Reid

Stuart’s Sydney Kingfish Fishing Tips

• Kingfish aren’t seasonal, but they change with the seasons. They can be caught all year round when fishing in Sydney Harbour, but you need to change your approach based on the season and conditions.
• In August and September there can be lots of bait in the system and kings are often associate with the bait, rather than structure. You’ll often see surface activity and with time you’ll learn to recognise the difference between tailor, small tuna and kingfish splashes. Kingfish will be hanging off the side of the bait schools, so be aware that driving your boat to the middle of a bust-up will disperse the fish and the bait.
• If there is no surface activity then it’s best to focus on the structure that typically attracts and holds kingfish, such as channel markers, reefs, wrecks and so on. If you’re fishing these areas, you have to be the first one to fish them for the day. Once the fish have seen a few lurs for the day they get harder to tempt.
• As September yields to October the kings will head offshore and become a jigging target.
• In the harbour the period three days before a full moon on a 1.6-1.8m high tide at 8am(ish) fishes best, especially if it’s a little overcast. The last 2hrs of the run in and the first 2 hrs of the runout are ideal especially when fishing the channel markers. If there’s no tide running the leather jacket will destroy your lures and damage your leader.

Stuart’s Kingfish Tackle

• The NS Black Hole snapper rod 10-20lb with a 4000 Shimano Stradic spin reel, 20lb J Braid and 20-25lb leader is great for reasonable sized fish out in the open away from structure.
• The 8’ NS Black Hole Bocca Rod, 6000 Stella Reel, 30lb Tas line and 30-40lb leader is a great medium weight combination.
• A Ripple Fisher Aquila rod is more of a tuna rod but occasionally has a place for harbour kingfish when throwing large stickbaits, but the Palms Sea Rapture is more versatile 5’6” rod that makes easy work of casting lures of 50-100g and 9” sluggos. Stuart uses 60lb braid on this outfit.

Stuart’s Kingfish Fishing Lures

• On the light gear Stuart uses small surface lures such as the 90mm Bassday Sugar Pen in white and silver with the treble hooks replaced by 1/0 or 2/0 Gamakatsu Diablos. This lure is perfect when you see surface action, you’ll often find the kingfish hit them almost instantly when the lure hits the water. Cast in front of moving fish, make sure your bail arm is closed when the lure hits the water. If it’s not taken instantly make a few fast winds and if the fish are following but not biting throw in a pause or two. 6” Sluggos on worm hooks, as well as Palms jigs also work well on the light tackle setups.
• On the medium weight gear the Stuart finds he can still cast smaller light lures such as the Bassday Sugar Pen. He typically removes the treble hooks from these lures and replaces them with singles.
• A 9” Sluggo in clear, pearl or white salt and pepper is also fishable on this outfit and gives good casting distance. These are best fished when there is plenty of current. Cast the lure upcurrent of a marker buoy or other piece of structure and let it sink – they’re often taken on the drop, so if the line darts off one way or another be prepared to set the hook with a smooth lift and wind, rather than a wild Jedi strike. This ensures the fish gets another shot at the lure if the first strike doesn’t hook up.
• 150-250g jigs fished in 8m of water are surprisingly effective and Stuart likes the Palms Jigaro Super Slide Jig 150g in Silver colour. Your sounder is your friend with this lure, when you identify fish foraging near the bottom simply drop the jig down