Kingfish rig

[armagh6]

Guys, just planning ahead here and am thinking of going after a king or 2 on the weekend using like yakkas. I have a couple of questions:

1) Should I use any weight, and if so, with what rig i.e. running sinker or with swivel?

2) I got advice before to use a 7/0 hook and to hook the yakka through the nose. Does it make any difference whether it goes up through the bottom jaw and out the top, or visa versa?

Thanks
Sean

[Blacky]

G'day Sean,
If i'm trolling a yakka i normally put a 6/0 Live bait hook through it's nose. By this i mean instead of putting it through its mouth i put it just in front of its eyes sideways. I've found that sometimes the fish can get off if through the mouth, with it through it's nose it has no chance of getting off. As far a weight it all depends on how fast and how deep you want to go. Take a couple of different weights and try them. You probably want to troll the yakka around 8 to 10m behind you at mid water.
Cheers
Blacky

P.S. i'll be fishing Nth harbour on saturday so come and say g'day if you're out there. I'll be in a small tinny with a 9.9hp Johnson on the back.

[armagh6]

Thanks Blacky. I'll be in my green inflatable Fishhunter, so be careful not to drive over me ;)
The wind forecast seems to be changing. Hope to get out Sat morning if it's calm, otherwise Sunday. My little trolling motor is stuffed so I'll be paddling, and therefore not trolling too far. I can hear you all laughing, but watch out! If I hook a king I might get a free ride back to Manly :)

[JOC00L]

If I hook a king I might get a free ride back to Manly :)
And if you hook a Toothy????:confused::confused:

The way Blacky hooks his yakkas is the same as me. Some people like to hook them in the back, but if your trolling them thats a sure fire way to drown 'em.

Because most of my fishing is done in relatively deep water, 15-25 meters, I will ususally run a barrel sinker right to the hook. The barrel sinker is relatively slim so will cut work better when trolling around. If I find the bait is still coming to high in the water column, I will slide a snapper lead, which has been attached to a clip, down the line.

The hook by the way is a Mustad Hoodlum, same as the Gama Live Bait in a 5/0 or 7/0 depending on bait size.

[armagh6]

thanks for the advice Jo.
What's a 'toothy'...shark or marlin?

[JOC00L]

Shark!:eek:

[flanks]

When i'm fishing at anchor i send 1 live bait out the back without any weight.Just watch that he dosn't swim under the boat. I find if you have two livies down the bottom at the same time you end up with a mess.
I run my sinker down to a swivel or ring with 40 cm trace as it gives the bait
more room to swim on a 7/0 hook.I have another swivel 60 to 70 cm above the sinker to stop the bait from swimming up. if the live bait is bigger than normal i cut their tails off.I paint my barrel sinkers red and white
(it can't hurt)