Back in the early seventies, deep water jigging was all the rage. We used heavy metal jigs and large feather jigs dropped down in deep water near reefs or structure where kingfish were known to lurk... When the jig was down under the depth that kings were holding we would wind and rip it all the way back to the surface or until the rod was nearly ripped out of our hands by a big king heading for cover.

This was some of the most exciting fishing an angler could experience. As time went by and kingfish traps took their toll on stocks, this method didn’t work as well as in the past. Forgotten by all but a few, the few that still fish these methods hooked up with their fair share of fish.

Over recent years we have been using unweighted and weighted soft plastics cast into school of kings and worked back in a variety of speeds and retrieves with some outstanding results. This is great when the fish are on top or in shallow water. It is when you can’t find these fish that this system lets you down.

Deep water jigging with soft plastics

Being a sports and flyfishing guide, using only lure and fly to tempt these fish in the Sydney area, you have to be prepared to try new and old techniques. With the return of kingfish in good numbers and sizes, I thought it was time to bring the old metal jigs out of retirement and we had mixed results. When the kings were on a hot bite, they worked great but if the fish were timid, the results were lacking. There is nothing worse than being next to another boat using fresh squid and/or live baits which are hooked up and you’re winding your arms off without results.

After a few frustrating trips, with kings following jigs all the way to the back to the boat without hooking up, it was time to rethink my methods. I had to put more life into my jigs, so I removed the large treble and replaced it with a Snap swivel, 5/0 soft plastic hook and a 6 inch Slugo. Instant results! The kings were climbing over each other to eat my jig. We ended up with a dozen kings caught and released. It didn’t take me long to head to the tackle shop to look at what was available in soft plastics and ask some advice on rigging them.

I was lucky enough to get some expert advice from Chris Battie from the Complete Angler at Villawood, what he doesn’t know about soft plastics is not worth knowing. A couple of hours of heaps of soft plastics, jig heads and the know-how to rig them, it was time to head out and put the theory to the test.

The night before, I pre-rigged 4kg and 6kg outfits with an array of different shape, colour, size and weighted jig heads and rigs. The next morning at 5am, I picked up a couple of my regular customers at Parsley Bay boat ramp. As we headed off they noticed the soft plastics hung off the rods and they made a few smart remarks about them. Well didn’t they have a change of heart!

After few hours they were being hooked up to more pelagics than either had caught in 6 previous outings. The next time they came out with me, the had enough soft plastics to outfit half of Sydney.

As we headed out towards Barrenjoey, we found a huge school of salmon working the mouth Pittwater. I positioned the boat upwind and as I pulled the boat out of gear the soft plastics were on there way.

Double hook up! As the salmon came up, they were followed by kings trying take the plastics out of there mouths. After I released them, I suggested to cast them and to let them sink to the bottom ripping them back fast as they can and wind with a pause every now and then.

As I watched them wind as fast they could, their rods simultaneously buckled over and the line was whistling through their runners as the kings headed down deep. After 15 minutes or so, the first kingfish, which measured 75cm, was boated and a few minutes later, one a little smaller hit the deck.

A few photos and the boys were hard at it and hooked up again. We ended up landing 5 kingfish, 3 bonito, heaps of tailor and salmon. After a couple hours the school went down and we lost touch with them so it was off to see if we could find some more fish work

We didn’t find any more working the top water so it was time check out the deeper areas. As we approach a small reef the fish alarm on my Humminbird 3D went crazy, fish from top to bottom.

I pulled the boat up and check the direction and speed of the drift. Then I motored back dropped anchor and positioned boat right over the top of the school. Most of the fish were down between 5 and 20 mtres with only a light current. I selected a couple of Slugo’s that I had rigged on large lead jig heads and attach them to two 6 to 8 kilo BWS Strudwick rods and Shimano 6000 Sustain high speed spinning reels that were loaded with some new 20 pound Tuff Yellow braid.

I prefer yellow braid rather than green as you can see when your line has reach the bottom more easily They cast their jigs out and counted them down to depth, then wound them as fast as they could about half way up one got slammed by good king. The action was fast and furious over the next hour landing and releasing many kings from 50cm to 70cm

Continued...

Deep water fly

Deep water flyfishing for kings and other pelagics is a method that is used to target fish that are deep in the water column. While Most fly fishermen use intermediate fly lines when fishing for pelagics and leave after the fish go deep the ones in the know like will pull out their fast sinking lines and shooting heads and let them sink down deep with great success.

It is important to know the depth of water and fish and the sink rate of your line. This lets you keep your fly in the strike zone and keeps your fly from hooking up on the bottom.

The retrieve depends on the mood of the fish. I always start with a double handed strip and pause every five or ten metres for a second or two a lot of hook ups come on the pause.

If the fish are timid try long slow strips. Don’t be afraid try different speed and pause until you find what working on the day.

Where and when to find them

Kingfish start to show up in numbers early October and move out as the water cools and the bait moves off in April, May but you often find them later in the winter but usually not in numbers Find then bait and most time you will find the kings not to far away.

Never drive past a working school of fish even if they are small chopper tailor as they can be the bait that the kings are feeding on. Often kings will be under other schools of fish. So let your jig sink down deep under a working school and rip it up through them.

Kings love to hang around structure this can be a reef, headland, wreck, bridges, or any other man made structures including large moored boats especially if their been there for long time as the growth and shadow will attract bait and kings.

This is were a good sounder and knowing how to use it is important. When your are around these area’s use sounder to locate both bait and fish that are feeding on them. Take your time to sounded area thoroughly drive over the area slowly if you find a good showing of fish hit your Gps or take a mark.

This is important as kings can be concentrated over a small area and if you’re not over them you won’t catch them. Many times you will see only one boat hooking up, as he has his boat right over the fish.

If other boats are were you want to be or you can not position your self over the fish you may have to resort to burly to bring the fish to you.

Another area were kings can be found in some the deep bays in Pittwater, Cowan and Hawkesbury take you time to run the sounder over these areas.

Tackle Needs

High speed deep water jigging is very demanding on rods, reels, line and terminal. So, good quality tackle is the name of the game. There would be nothing worse than gear failure in the middle of a hot bite on king’s.

So spend a few more dollars and buy the best tackle you can afford.

Spin Tackle

For most of the kings that you will find in the Sydney area, rods in the 6 to 10 kilo range will handle them.

I like fast action graphite rods as they are light and powerful and can be used all day without getting tired. I use a Strudwick softbodz 7’6” 6 to 8 kilo spin rod.

High speed spinning reels is the only way to go as most days the faster your lure is ripped through the water the more fish you will hook.

A good smooth drag that does not fade or jerk is important when kings take long powerful runs. Reels in the 6000 to 8000 size will hold enough line and aren’t too heavy and can be used all day.

I use Shimano 6000 Sustain and Stradic reels.

Line and leaders

Braid and gel spun line are the best, with little stretch and are very sensitive. You can feel every little bite or nip. This is important as sometimes if you pause in your retrieve after a nip it will encourage another strike.

Tough abrasion resistant leader 15 to 24kg 3 or 4 metres long in case the fish heads for cover. Braid and Gel spun lines don’t like touching any sharp or rough structure. I use 20 to 30lb tuff line and Harrison Bionic braid.

Fly Gear

The fly rods that I use are Strudwick DBT 8 and 9 wt. I find these handle most kings that I run into. If they are too big all you can do is point the rod and hang on and hope that fish turns. Fly reels should also have good smooth drag that will not fade.

Small cheap trout reels will not handle the long hard runs of kings and their friends. I have been using a variety of fly reels in the $200 to $350 range. Fly line should be fast sinking and shooting heads with a couple hundred metres of braid backing. Leaders should be at least 15kg around 1-5 to 2 metres long.

I use Airflo fast sinking and 500gr shooting heads. These lines get down deep fast. This is important as the faster it gets down the more time your fly is being fished.

Fact box
Dean Hayes owns and operates Dean Hayes Sports and Flyfishing Tours he fishes the Hawkesbury system from the upper reaches to the sea and Sydney Harbour Parramatta river.

We target Bass, Bream, Flathead, Estuary Perch and pelagic like Kingfish, Bonito, Salmon, Tailor and Small Tuna on Fly and Lure out off a 6m Sportsfishing boat that fish four in comfort.
Contact Dean 0408 334 992