King Mackerel on a Fly
With the sun beating down and penetrating the water into depths that would otherwise be dark as night, anglers along the Atlantic seaboard cast heavy flies attached to heavier rods. With flies the size of fish, alpine fishermen celebrate catching as they probe deep structures hoping for a strike from one of the most sought-after sportfish in the ocean.
Below, cruising the perimeter of sunken wrecks, reefs, and platforms, is a fish that offers up an incredible fight. Though it is dangerous to handle and deadly to undersized tackle, it can strike without being noticed.
However, once the hook is set, the fly fisherman better be ready for the fight of their life. Everyday reel arbors are exhausted, lines are cut, and flies are destroyed by a fish that occupy most saltwater fishermen’s dreams.
That fish is the king mackerel on a fly.
All About King Mackerel
King Mackerel, or kings, are nearly the apex of saltwater sportfishing. They are overshadowed only by marlin, tuna, and sailfish. The reason is fairly clear, a fish that is 20lbs on the small end and easily gets upwards of 100lbs that can swim at 40mph is incredible to hook.
Kings are a typical silver, blue, and green combination common to many predatory saltwater fish. Their torpedo shape and serrated teeth allow them to be exceptional predators. However, due to their power and knife-like teeth, many fly fishermen have difficulty landing them successfully.
Two features that make the King Mackerel distinctive are their spotting and nose. Their nose is pointed like a tuna’s but shorter with a hinged jaw that allows them to capture different sizes of baitfish. The spots down their side are also markers of the species.
Where to Find King Mackerel
Kings can be found anywhere on the Atlantic seaboard. However, unlike stripers and bluefish, they are drawn to very warm water. That means their northernmost range will only take them to North Carolina, but they will go as far south as Brazil.
King Mackerel are typically deep-water, structure-oriented fish. They can easily be found around offshore platforms and other submerged structures when they aren’t migrating or spawning. Fishing these areas with a heavy fly and a sink tip can be very productive.
However, the most fun and interesting times to fish for kings are during their migration. As they move into shallower water, top-water presentations become more viable, and the fish are much more likely to jump. This makes fishing for them during this time much more exciting.
Packing the Tacklebox
King mackerel are called kings for a reason; few fish can outfight them at their size. Therefore, having the right tackle will be critical to keeping them on the line for the duration of the extreme fights they are sure to put up.
Rods—In the world of fly fishing, king mackerel is a big strong fish that will require anything but delicate tackle to land. Having a bias for long and strong rods will benefit you greatly when you hook up with one of these super-strong fish. Having a ten-foot rod will allow you the casting distance you need and provide control over your line over long distances. That rod must be no smaller than a 10-weight to handle a fighting king mackerel. However, in some cases, it may be best to default to a 12 weight if you expect to be in exceptionally large kings.
Reels— Kings like to run far and fast. Therefore, whatever reel you select needs to have an extremely large capacity for plenty of backing. High-quality reels that can withstand the corrosive nature of saltwater are an obvious quality that needs to be prioritized in a king mackerel reel. However, it is second to the need for a high-performance drag to slow these strong fish down without snapping your line.
Leaders—Kings pay attention to leaders, so ensuring they stay as hidden as possible is critical to success. Don’t use a leader less than ten feet long, but have a bias for 12-14 foot leaders as standard. Using a shorter leader has no real advantage, so deferring to the longer leaders will almost always make more sense. No matter the length, don’t use less than 40lbs test mono, or you will break off more fish than you catch.
Flies— Fly selection for King Mackerel is fairly straightforward. They are voracious predators that need to consume high quantities of protein every day. Therefore, any fly that imitates a baitfish that has been separated from its friends will suffice. Clouser Minnows, Deceivers, and Glass Minnows are just a few examples of flies that will work on kings, but nearly any fly that resembles a small fish will work. On rare occasions when kings feed on shrimp, various shrimp patterns can also be effective.
Hooks— Hook size will vary depending on conditions and the size of baitfish the kings are feeding on in your local fishery. The main thing is to make sure that you manage to get your fly down to the depth needed to make a quality presentation. Deferring to a larger hook may help in that endeavor but will result in not being able to land the smaller fish. Therefore, you will be forced with a classic quality versus quantity tradeoff. The bigger the hook, the better the fish caught but fewer in number.
Tips for Catching King Mackerel on a Fly
Play The Migration Patterns- Like any fish, king mackerel must migrate to certain bottom topography to spawn effectively. Therefore, the successful fly fisherman will take advantage of this habit and fish in those places at the right time. Local fly shops and fishing guides are often great sources of information about where and when to fish these shallow estuaries to capitalize on the king mackerel migration.
Slow Retrieves- Unlike other saltwater predators, kings enjoy taking advantage of the easier-to-catch fish. Whereas many other fish like fast, erratic retrieves, kings defer to fish showing signs of weakness to acquire some easy calories. Therefore, make your retrieves slow and twitchy. This will imitate a dying fish that will attract a king’s attention.
Keep Your Line Tight- King Mackerel are a powerhouse of a fish, but often times they will strike very lightly. This is especially true if you have slowed your retrieve and have a larger fly. Keeping your line tight will aid you in detecting a strike in the event they don’t run at first.
Catching King Mackerel with Scout Boats
Catching kings year-round can be quite a task. Sometimes you will need to fish deep water around submerged wrecks and reefs. Other times you will be required to fish in shallow water in estuaries. Having a boat that will facilitate both extremes while also being comfortable and providing plenty of room to cast can be hard to find. However, there is hope.
The 281 XSS is just such a boat. With a shallow draft, long haul capacity, and a large casting deck, the 281 XSS will provide you with everything you need in a boat to catch king mackerel successfully.
Source: https://scoutboats.com/blog/king-mackerel-on-a-fly/
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