Stinker’s Fishin’: Kingfish ambush

IT seems to me that every time I go fishing in “Stinkpot” there is a story to tell.

Something happens that has not happened during any of my numerous excursions out into the wild water off the Point Stephens Outer Lighthouse.

Recently a solid southerly wind kicked in, building what was a flat sea into a four metre swell.

Too big for my little tinny.

Two days later the sea had settled to around two metres and the south wind kept blowing, far more gently.

Perfect!

It was in the afternoon that I headed for the reefs in front of the lighthouse all set up to land “big red” and a few of his mates.

Along with a bucket of berley, fresh yellowtail, mullet strips and big prawns were organised for bait on my 5/0 hooks on 20lb line.

It was a long, bumpy bash in the conditions in my 11-foot tinny and 9hp motor.

Anchoring on arrival I was confident – everything was in order, big snapper were not far away.

With two rods I cast one with a fat prawn and the other with a cube of yellowtail.

Whammo!

Before I could set the second rod in the holder the first rod flattened and the reel squealed.

Here we go!

As the battle continued I became increasingly certain that this was not a snapper.

Sure enough on first sighting, a kingfish.

A legal size kingy (65cm) can put up a mighty scrap.

The kingfish was accompanied by four or five others all keen to attack my bait.

I am not a kingfish fan and much prefer snapper.

On this occasion I had no choice as it seemed I had anchored in “Kingfish Central” – there were kingfish everywhere, in the berley trail, on the surface around the tiny.

Every bait was attacked.

Avoiding kingies is a challenge.

My only thought was to put a big sinker on the line and hope that the bait would sink before the kingfish woke up. After two reasonable snapper, the kingfish got wise and continued to feast on every bait.

Time to up anchor and motor home.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE