Catching King MackerelCatching King MackerelPresented by

Tom Putnamtom@halfhitch.com@

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Bob FowlerBob.fowler@marinemax.com

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King Mackerel

Family Scombridae, MACKERELS and TUNAS Scomberomorous cavalla

Description: color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery, streamlined body with tapered head; no p g ; y, y p ;black pigment on front of dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellow spots like those of the Spanish mackerel.

Where found: NEARSHORE & OFFSHORE, occasionally taken from piers running into deep water.

Size: common to 20 pounds.

Florida Record: 90 lbs.World Record: 93 lbs., Puerto Ricoo d eco d 93 bs , ue o co

Remarks: schooling fish that migrates from south Florida waters in winter to more northerly waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be separate from Atlantic population, with considerable mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West; spawns in midsummer OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish

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and squid.

Spanish Mackerel

Family Scombridae, MACKERELS & TUNAS, Scomberomorous maculatus

Description: color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail.

Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; king mackerel, S. cavalla.

Where found: INSHORE, NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE, especially over grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida waters in winter.

Size: average catch less than 2 pounds (20 inches).

Florida Record: 12 lbs.World Record: 13 lbs. 1995 Ft. Pierce, FL

Remarks: schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE, spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.

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Bonita

Family: Euthynnus alletteratus, little tuna, false albacore

Description: Wavy lines on back and spots around pectoral fin make this one easy to identify – but it is well know anyway to nearly every angler who ventures very far from shore.

Where found: A roamer. Ventures anywhere from close ashore to the deep sea.

Size: Common anywhere from a 2lbs. to 15 lbs.; exceeds 30 lbs.

Florida Record: 27 lbs. Key LargoWorld Record: 35 lbs. 2 oz, Algeria

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Barracuda

Family: Sphyraenidae, Sphyraena Barracuda

Description: Elongated body with narrow head and pointed lower jaw bearing large teeth Color is grayish above with silvery sides marked by dark blotches Tail widelyteeth. Color is grayish above, with silvery sides marked by dark blotches. Tail widely forked and has pointed lobes.

Where found: Anywhere in South Florida, Mexico and Cuba from shorelines and bays out to blue water. Offshore over wrecks and reefs.

Size: Ranges from foot-long juveniles on shallow southern flats to individuals weighing 50 lbs. or more offshore. Usual maximum around 30 lbs., with average 5-15lbs., g

Florida Record: 67 lbs. IslamoradaWorld Record: 67 lbs. Islamorada

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DolphinF il C h id DOLPHINS C h hi•Family Coryphaenidae, DOLPHINS Coryphaena hippurus

Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides;sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending from anus to tail.

f O S OWhere found: OFFSHORE in warm waters.

Size: common to 30 pounds.

*Florida Record: 77 lbs 12 ozFlorida Record: 77 lbs, 12 oz.*World Record: 87 lbs. Costa Rica

Remarks: one of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years; swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm ocean currentsswimming speed is estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; young found in sargassum weed; feeds on flying fish and squid.

•Legal Limit = none in Gulf Waters

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g•Bag Limit = 10 Not to exceed 60 per vessel

King Mackerel vs. Spanish Mackerel ID Made EasyMade Easy

“Lateral line definite drop.Definite King Mackerel”

Here is a close up of the dorsal fins.

The two main things to look for are the lateral lines and the dorsal fins. A juvenile kingfish's lateral line dips i ifi tl d t S i hsignificantly compared to a Spanish

mackerel. Also the dorsal fin of a juvi kingfish will be a much lighter color,

more of a gray or white color than the

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more of a gray or white color than the Spanish, whose fin will be black or very

dark in color.

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Spinning vs ConventionalSpinning vs. Conventional

Best for castingPoor leverage, limited drag

Best leverageBest drag, poor casting

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2 Speed vs. 1 Speed vs. High Effi i G iEfficiency Gearing

High efficiency gearing allowsHigh efficiency gearing allows for best of both worlds – easy cranking like low speed & fast retrieval like high speed2 Speed reels give extra g p

leverage in low gear high speed to pick up line fast when approaching fish

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Rod Action

• Light tip rods are more sensitive but lack backbone for pulling fish ff th i koff their wreck

• Long slow action rods are called picking polesp g p

• Easy to feel bite but very poor leverage

• Stand up vs picking Pole• Stand up vs. picking Pole

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Catching Bait with Sabiki’sCatching Bait with Sabiki s

• Generally will bite bare hooksGenerally will bite bare hooks on the fall

• Most people don’t use heavy p p yenough weight

• Great bait catching places Buoys, C Buoy, Other Reefs

• Tide lines for bait schools watch depth recorder

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Treble HooksTreble HooksThere is no standardization in hooks a 2/0 in Brand A can be a different size than a 2/0 in brand B.

1X

2X – Next larger size wire

4X 3 sizes larger size wire4X – 3 sizes larger size wire

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Leaders & Making RigsLeaders & Making Rigs

Don’t use lightDon t use light pre-made leaders – too light

Too much terminal

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Leaders•Mono

– low visibility has stretch, easy to bite off bylow visibility has stretch, easy to bite off by teethy fish

•Single strand stainless steel wireSmall diameter– Small diameter

– Stiff – very visible– Able to twist, no knots, no sleeves teethy

fi h i t tfish resistant•Stainless Steel Cable

– Stiff – more strands the more flexible –very visible

– Requires sleeves – teethy fish resistant

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What Type of Leader?What Type of Leader?Single Strand Wire - small, twist to g ,tie, kinks & breaks high knot strength

Multi-Strand Wire - durable, must sleeve with low know strength

CCoated or Uncoated - easy to handle, large diameter, must sleeve with poor knot strengthp g

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Live Bait RigsLive Bait Rigs

Small front hookSmall front hook to keep from killing bait with gstringer or trailing treble(s)

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Ribbon Fish• A preferred bait by

many tournament &many tournament & professional fishermanfisherman

• Known for catching large Kingslarge Kings

• Generally caught at night by Shrimp Boats

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Ribbon Fish RigsRibbon Fish Rigs

H 6 10• Have 6-10 evenly spaced t bl h ktreble hooks

• 4X preferred

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Why Use a Duster?3 Hook Rig With & Without Dusters

• Dusters help to reduce bait spinning

• Flash similar to bait scale flashscale flash

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Other ArtificialOther ArtificialWith or without adding

d ia ready minnow3-7 MPH, trolling cigar

i b ll hminnows or ballyhoo recommended7 15 MPH l7-15 MPH use lure without bait

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Artificial LuresArtificial Lures• Easy to use

• No bait that will wear out

• Little or no expertiseLittle or no expertise needed

• Wire leader recommended

• Large lip helps lure to dive

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Weights & Planersg

Planers are

difficult to useto use

but they catchcatch fish

Egg & Cigar shaped leads are preferredwhen trolling. Use a swivel as a stop

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when trolling. Use a swivel as a stopwhen using egg leads.

4 Line Trolling Set-upCircle with your port(left)To the outside

Port is privilege

+ 200 Ft0 1

1-3 oz.150-200 ft

Little Longer#2 Planner

4-6 oz

0-1 oz.ShortestDeepest6-16 oz.

#3 Pl

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4 6 oz.100-150 ft

#3 Planner50-100 ft

Trolling LeaderTrolling LeaderUse 6-20ft 40lb test clear mono leader between lead and short wire leader & lure Longer the better on the monoshort wire leader & lure. Longer the better on the mono leader but it is difficult to handle long leaders on small & mid sized boats

LeadLine

6’ to 20’ 40 # clear mono12” to 18” wire leader

Swivel

Swivel LureRod

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Fishing with a DownriggerFishing with a Downrigger

• Control Depth Fishing

• Ability to fish d th ithany depth with

light tackle

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Gaff Hook SizeGaff Hook Size

Gaff hook size h ld b llshould be small

where the hook will not go around to gthe long slender body of a mackerel

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ChummingChumming

• Frozen – fine ground chum works bestFrozen fine ground chum works best– Add menhaden oil

Dry most tend to float & larger pieces• Dry – most tend to float & larger pieces• Menhaden oil – floats great for surface

ffeeder• Menhaden milk – oil adapted to mix with

water great for all water levels

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Hook RemovalHook RemovalAlways stay away from Mackerels sharp teethMackerels sharp teeth.

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Finding BaitFinding Bait

• Keep Fish Finder toKeep Fish Finder to Look for Bait

• Bait will not always be• Bait will not always be on the surfaceFi h fi d i• Fish finder is an easy way to spot bait schools

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Fighting BeltFighting BeltHelps relieve pressure when fighting a fish

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Haywire TwistThis is one of the best & most commonly used methods for linking solid wire toThis is one of the best & most commonly-used methods for linking solid wire toany type of connecting ring. The number of wraps & the two different kinds ofwraps in the Haywire Twist may seem elaborate to many anglers. But fornumerous varieties of strong saltwater fish, this tie is absolutely necessary to keepthe wire from “pulling out ”

Fig 1

the wire from pulling out.

Fig 3Thread the end of the wire through the hood eye, pulling about five inches of wire through it.

Fig 2

Pi h th t i f i t th d b i

Now bend the tag end of the wire at a 90-degree angle to the standing part of wire and begin makingPinch the two pieces of wire together, and begin

twisting the wire strands simultaneouslytogether, so they wrap around each other at about a 45-degree angle. Make four to six “wraps.”

angle to the standing part of wire, and begin making “barrel wraps” tight to each other, as shown in the illustration. Make four to six “barrel wraps.” Bend the tag end of the wire back and forth until it breaks, and the Haywire Twist is completed.

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Fish ID & Rigging BooksFish ID & Rigging Books

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Chart # 11390

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Future ClassesFuture Classes

• October 13th – Flounder & Fall Bay FishingOctober 13 Flounder & Fall Bay Fishing• November 10th – Hands on Rigging

9/10/2012 35

MEETINGSMEETINGS

Next Meeting Schedule• October 29 - November 2, 2012

M i tt C t dGulf Of Mexico Fishery Marriott Courtyard1600 E. Beach Blvd.Gulfport, MS 39501

Gulf Of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting Schedule2203 N Lois Avenue, Suite 1100,Tampa, Florida 33607 USAToll Free: 888-833-1844Email: info@gulfcouncil.orggulfcouncil.orgg g

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MEETINGSMEETINGSNext Meeting:Florida Fish and Wildlife gDecember 5-6, 2012Apalachicola

Conservation CommissionFarris Bryant Building620 S. Meridian St.Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600(850) 488-4676

Saltwater Regulations myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/

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HOW TO MEASUREHOW TO MEASURE• Fish regulated by fork length are measured from the tip of the jaw or

tip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tailtip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail.

• Fork Length Species Include: Amberjacks, Bluefish, Rudderfish, King Mackerel, Hog Fish, Spanish, Mackerel, Dolphin, Permit, Cobia, Pompano, Mullet, African Pompano

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