Best Kingfish Bait: How To Catch, Prep and Rig Ribbonfish
Ribbonfish is one of the best baits for big king mackerel. Here’s how the pros catch, prepare, rig and fish ribbonfish to catch more kingfish.
Check out the latest fishing tips and techniques for catching King Mackerel.
Ribbonfish is one of the best baits for big king mackerel. Here’s how the pros catch, prepare, rig and fish ribbonfish to catch more kingfish.
“Dos and Dont’s” to make your offshore fishing days more fun and productive.
The top Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports where kingfish fishing is king, and the best rigs and tackle to catch smoker kings.
Expect multiple hookups on smoker king mackerel early in the year.
King mackerel, or kingfish, migrate throughout the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico coastal waters; they’re also found in the Caribbean Sea and off South America. Wherever they swim in the Western Atlantic Ocean, all king mackerel belong to the same genus and species — Scomberomorus cavalla—however U.S. fisheries managers regulate Atlantic and Gulf kings as two separate stocks based on studied migratory habits. These fish can grow to nearly 100 pounds.
Often found near reefs, kingfish are generally caught on live or dead trolled baits. In the 1990s, a massive kingfish tournament circuit—the Southern Kingfish Association—emerged, offering both pro and amateur divisions. Since U.S. economic woes began in the mid-2000s, circuit participation has dwindled. However, anglers still love to target these toothy (and tasty when smoked) game fish.
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