Quite a few large kingfish had been patrolling the northern Spencer Gulf in recent weeks, so I thought it would be a great chance to get out and have a shot. The sea was like glass as the boat glided off the trailer and into the water; a short journey down the coast to the live bait grounds followed while the day grew hotter.
With eight very tasty looking live squid in the well, it was time to pick a position and set up. The method for big SA kings is simple; set two live baits out on game reels such as the Okuma Makaira 50WII under balloons and deploy these out from the back of the boat. The reels are filled with Sufix Ultra-Supreme 24kg IGFA line to a bimini double, then use an Albright knot to attach the 100lb leader. A lumo bead goes on the leader before the ball bearing swivel and then a short length of 150lb leader to a circle hook. One squid is sent out at around ten metres and one a bit further around 25 metres back. While the live baits are doing their thing, we cast Rapala X-Rap Walks and SubWalks on the Okuma Salina 16000 reel and S802GT popping stick to entice any fish that might be cruising past. This also helps to pass the time until a live bait goes off.
Early in the day while my fishing partner was working the stick bait to the boat, he noticed some shapes moving down deep underneath us. As we both peered over the side a 25kg kingfish appeared out of nowhere and sat with its back out of the water looking at the stationary stick bait right at the side of the boat. This was before realising something was amiss and exploding back to the depths. Following this was a pod of kings that shadowed the stick bait right to the boat as a thumper from the pod gently poked its head out the water and tried sipping the X-Rap Walk off the top like a big brown trout taking a dry fly!
Big Kingfish are such an interesting and curious fish; inspecting every lure and bait with such a cunning eye. It amazes me that they can be so interested in following a stick bait and not even look at the beautiful live squid once they are lured near them.
As the afternoon wore on, a large thunderstorm was brewing over the western sky as big black nasty looking clouds started to roll in. With plenty of lightening and gusty wind, along with some mega cracks of thunder, I made mention to my fishing partner that this would surely turn the kings on – and it did! Not much longer after the storm had arrived the balloons started to bob up and down as the squid began to panic. Large boils around the balloon out the back indicated that the kings were here… before the balloons settled down again. The calm only lasted a brief moment as the boils were back and the balloon was ripped off. 
The Makaira 50WII screamed in to life as I struck hard and watched the 24kg disappear at speed on a tight drag setting. The first run was a long one followed by another at high speed. The unseen king then slugged it out deep, making me do several laps of the boat. A little while later a very skilful net shot had the king beaten. We took a few quick photos before the fish was speared back in to the ocean and the habitual high fives followed as we watched the big king blast away.
The Makaira line of games reels are perfect for targeting giant shallow water kingfish with the 30II and 50WII being the most suitable sizes. Always use monofilament on these big fish in shallow water as the fight is far too violent and you will feel it for many days after you’ve landed the fish. 
Also with the rocky territory these big fish live in, mono gives that added safety if the fish happens to take the line under something during the fight. I like to match my 50WII Makaira with the Solterra S-24SVG 24-36kg game rod so I can give the fish plenty of hurt when I need too. I’ll use 8/0 VMC circle hooks for squid and smaller 7/0 hooks for fish such as garfish or salmon.
Best regards,
Lubin Pfeiffer.
