kingfish at rotto
Submitted by Sea goat on Wed, 2021-11-10 11:02
Hey guys.
Am heading over to meet a friend at rotto on friday. given the ban is on, i thought id try trolling for some pelagics, or i have heard there are some bommies out towards west end whcih can sometimes produce kingfish with stick baits etc.
Have never caught a kingfish (except for a 30cm one at the fads... go figure!) so was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? and am i in the right tim of year? and if this area is worth a try? just want to know if its a waste of time or not? Also any suggestions on lures and sizes etc?
Also i noted that on the maps cape vlamingh is a demersal sanctuary, just checking can still fish for other species here?
thanks for any info!
cheers
Goat.
.thumbnail.jpg "Kelvin8tor's 77cm first ever fish on a jig")
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Hi Sea Goat I've caught a lot
Hi Sea Goat
I've caught a lot of YTK's at Rotto and lost just about as many!. Trolling divers or small skirts around West End and into the chicken run on the south side is productive. Radar Reef is a spot to cast stickbaits but you can only do that if the swell is basically non-existent. Hooked a monster there on a baitcast mulie and we then led it away into open water but as soon as I applied pressure he bricked me. Be very careful and vigilant anywhere around West End as it can be hairy!
We've also caught smaller great eating sized ones in Strickland Bay and Salmon Bay livebaiting with herring. Just use the smallest ones you can find. We just suspend them about 1.5m below a glitter float on a sharp hook.
Spring and summer are great times to fish for kingies.
Cheers
PGFC member and lure tragic
Sea goat
Posts: 939
Date Joined: 26/03/17
thanks heaps mate! thats
thanks heaps mate! thats awesome info. might look at grabbing a few herring before heading over!
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
No worries mate. No better
No worries mate. No better place to catch herring than Rotto! We used to catch them in the bays where we were going to fish.
I'm sure there are lots of other good spots but these all worked in the past.
PGFC member and lure tragic
uncle
Posts: 9351
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Caught quite a few at West end
But I anchor and burly and use mulies
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
West End sanctuary zone is
West End sanctuary zone is trolling only these days Unc.
PGFC member and lure tragic
uncle
Posts: 9351
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Yeh I know
Plenty of good ground to anchor and burly up for pinks YTKs and macks
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Good for salmon most years
Good for salmon most years too
PGFC member and lure tragic
uncle
Posts: 9351
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Check out Jazz charters
Last trip out!
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Sea goat
Posts: 939
Date Joined: 26/03/17
thanks guys. didnt end up
thanks guys. didnt end up making it out there due to weather, but will keep this in mnd for next good day!
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
It's hit and miss fishing
It's hit and miss fishing but more hits than misses as a rule so try next time you're over there.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Sea goat
Posts: 939
Date Joined: 26/03/17
definitley will. was spewing,
definitley will. was spewing, as we made it to porpoise bay, but weather window was a bit limited and didnt want to get stuck out at west edn if it turned, so eneded up pulling up in porpoise bay for a swim, then a donut at the bakery! still an awesome day, but super excited to give the kingies a try! next bucket list fish!
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
They'll still be there mate!
They'll still be there mate!
PGFC member and lure tragic