Print Page | Close Window

What rig to troll a livebait for kingfish?

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=130170
Printed Date: 03 Feb 2026 at 2:25pm


Topic: What rig to troll a livebait for kingfish?
Posted By: Ecko
Subject: What rig to troll a livebait for kingfish?
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 9:45am
Hi everyone

I have a TLD25 spooled with 80lb braid

Would this be appropriate to troll for kingfish with?
If so, how would I best set it up?

Thanks in advance


Replies:
Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 1:02pm
Fine for Kingis. Setup depends on how you want to fish. You could slow troll bridle rigged baits like large Jack Macs and small Kahawai by adding a large ball sinker in front of the swivel (or some people put it in front of the hook). If you prefer artificials you can use any of the range of diving minnow style baits. I don't do this much myself but have always liked the Rapala CD18's. Red/white and Green Mackeral seem to be two of the better colours. There are plenty of others that could be better though if you ask around. Whilst some of the minnows pull pretty hard on the rod, speed is still good to make them get down so troll them as fast as you comfortably can. I remember some Tauranaga guys posting on here years back about pulling the Rapalas at 10 - 12knts and finding they worked better for Kingis at those speeds. 

Posted By: Ecko
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 1:34pm
Originally posted by Tagit Tagit wrote:

Fine for Kingis. Setup depends on how you want to fish. You could slow troll bridle rigged baits like large Jack Macs and small Kahawai by adding a large ball sinker in front of the swivel (or some people put it in front of the hook). If you prefer artificials you can use any of the range of diving minnow style baits. I don't do this much myself but have always liked the Rapala CD18's. Red/white and Green Mackeral seem to be two of the better colours. There are plenty of others that could be better though if you ask around. Whilst some of the minnows pull pretty hard on the rod, speed is still good to make them get down so troll them as fast as you comfortably can. I remember some Tauranaga guys posting on here years back about pulling the Rapalas at 10 - 12knts and finding they worked better for Kingis at those speeds. 


Thanks Tagit

So for the bridle rigged bait would I:

Braid -> Mono -> Baller Sinker +Swivel -> Mono -> Hook?

With the Rapala's, how deep do they dive with speed

THanks 

Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 2:37pm
Braid, sinkers (say 2 x 4oz balls), swivel. mono (say 100lb) hook and bait. We used to do this quite a bit up in the far north for big Kingis using small/med Kahawai around some of the capes. It can be really effective. You need to troll pretty slow though so will your boat let you get really slow? I use the trolling valves on Tagit and can get down to 1 knt if I want too. Around 1.5knts is usually OK.

Not sure how far the rapalas dive but they go deeper with more speed as long as there isn't too much line drag. I think they go down around 5 to 7m when set up correctly.They pull really hard on the rod at speed. I would keep asking on here also to see if someone suggests some other options. I like the CD raps but have limited experience with what might be better options.

Posted By: terrafish
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 2:54pm
When I'm slow trolling livies for kingfish, I use a long(1.5-2m) 80-100lb fluorocarbon trace, attached to swivel, attached to line. Hook is placed diagonally thru the skin from in front of dorsal coming out towards the head on the other side and staying as shallow as possible but getting as much skin as possible, to stop the hook from tearing out. If the hook is offset them make sure that the hookpoint is up when the eye of the hook is towards the tail. Very important to ensure this or else the hook will bury itself back in the livie when it gets eaten.
I personally don't use any weight as I find they will swim as deep as they can, for the amount of line out, when they are not being harassed and not being towed too fast. Smaller the livebait slower you need to go. I aim to keep my speed between .6kn -1.5kn, depending on the size and type of livie in use. Go to fast and you just end up dragging them sideways and ruining them. When you put them over the side make sure that you toss them away from the boat and the boat is moving, otherwise the little ******* will swim straight back to the boat and into the prop almost guaranteed!!!! Trust me on this one.
To keep my speed down I am in and out of gear constantly and using full lock to keep boat on course. Sounds tiring but quickly becomes automatic once you have a feel for the boat. When you make your turns, make them long otherwise you can run over your line if you make em too tight.
When your livie is deployed, set your drag as light as you possibly can. That is, if you give the line a good sharp pull, it doesn't over-run on you. Use your thumb to hold it in position. Watch your line carefully, if it angles up quickly towards the surface, then it is more than likely being chased or looked at. Hold that livie just tight enuff to ensure that the kingy has to take it from you. Give it a 5 count then smoothly increase drag and let rod load up. Irrelevent of circles or J's DO NOT STRIKE, you'll just flick the hook out to often.
Its a great way to fish for em and and can be very helpful in locating fish in unfamiliar shallower areas or known for that matter.
If you wanna know more flick me a pm or come up to the B.O.I and i'll show ya!

Posted By: OuttaHere
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 4:50pm
Bridle rig. If you pin them through the shoulder they get tired out pretty quickly then they fall over and start to go propellor (unless you get it pretty much perfect), then they die real fast or the hook rips out. Bridle rigging is damn near impossible to get wrong, Mackerel stay alive for ages on them unless they manage to turn themselves around and get the hook stuck in their side.


Print Page | Close Window