Rats, mice and kingies....
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=97336
Printed Date: 06 Jun 2026 at 5:57am
Topic: Rats, mice and kingies....
Posted By: brmbrm
Subject: Rats, mice and kingies....
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2014 at 5:30pm
Have only just started targeting kingies and had a few sessions stick-baiting from Auckland, mainly around the buoys. Have caught quite a few, but all undersized (45-60cm I guess). Have learned a few things (flatten the barbs: my thumb agrees with this after an unhooking incident  ) and remove hooks in the water (less thrashing around).Question: basically what I have caught so far are mice that barely count as rats. So if that is what you are catching, and you can't see big ones following the mice to the boat, is it worth persevering (catching and damaging small fish) or should you go elsewhere? Very exciting fishing though!
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Replies:
Posted By: revilo
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2014 at 1:01pm
| Ive been targeting kingfish over the last 6 trips this summer and there really are a lot of small kingfish around! Stickbaits, poppers, trolling, livebaiting, jigging. All just results in subsize fish at the moment. Tbh have only had one good fish come by and grab a livebait kahawai and he popped the hook. I noticed though they are difference school sizes. If they are reallly small id say move on. There are larger rat schools around which will produce fish 75-85cm. Find these and something for dinner. |
Posted By: Mr Plastic
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2014 at 4:07pm
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In the gulf my best fish are by far with a livebait. A big livebait at that!. The 15-20kg models have no issue eating a 3kg kahawai. Jigs and topwater tend to attract the 10-12kg fish as a rule with the odd big one making through the schooling rats. ------------- Synit Prototype bender |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2014 at 5:01pm
 Not all are rats n mice ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: Men In Black
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2014 at 5:32pm
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Derek, I've seen a couple of big models just out the back of your Island... and I mean Three Kings big...... I think this year has seen a few bigger kingi's in the Gulf... great for jiggers and topwater... I need to get that little Van Diemen built for you... ------------- www.synit.co.nz |
Posted By: Mr Plastic
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2014 at 8:35am
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Yep. Quietly a little boy waits!!. The catalina is getting anxious.. lol ------------- Synit Prototype bender |
Posted By: Mr Plastic
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2014 at 8:42am
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I agree there are some good kings this year, the numbers are up for sure. I think catch and release education may have had an impact which is a fantastic sign for the fishery. Jigging and topwater makes releasing the fish easy and in good condition with most hookups being in the jaw. One of the many benefits of lure fishing. ------------- Synit Prototype bender |
Posted By: PE Pete
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2014 at 8:32pm
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Mr P funny you should say that cause I was thinking the same thing. It's us making the difference I have landed over 100 Kings since Oct 2013 but kept only one per outing. ------------- Tight lines PE Pete |
Posted By: Mr Plastic
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2014 at 7:28am
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Pete it could be the water temp, bait schools Or a number of other things but as you say if everyone takes a good eating fish per boat per trip i believe we are on the right track. We often take one around 12kg and have a quick snapper fish on the way home. Always plenty of fish to share round the hood. More than one fish is an obscene amount of meat for one person and it doesnt freeze well. I could never understand the three fish limit on kings. They should have dropped the limit on kings not snapper imo. ------------- Synit Prototype bender |
Posted By: feijoa
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2014 at 9:10pm
totally agree with this. still have dicks saying 'ohhh you should put back the small ones!!!' but a 11-13kg is so much meat, a 20kg+ just gets wasted really so just send them back. |
Mr Plastic wrote:Posted By: Time_Bandit
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 6:57pm
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for sure 20kg ones are too much meat ------------- “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” |