In mid-July thoughts of kingfish are usually just a pleasant memory from the spring. For the past month we have been targeting kingfish on a regular basis along the shipping channel starting at markers 7and 8 and westward to the Whistler. Some have been caught on hardware with spoons and large plugs behind # 2and 3 planers, but the best and most consistent action has been on live bait caught with a sabiki near the markers. Not every set of markers will be harboring them on a daily basis, but once they are located, non stop action from not only kingfish, but bonita and sharks will often happen. Spinner sharks with jumps as high as 10 feet in the air will provide memories of a lifetime as well as the dogged attack of a bull shark on a helpless hooked bonita.
Bottom fishing for the usual red and gag grouper, white grunts; mangrove, Lane, yellowtail and vermillion snapper has been consistent in the 70 to 90 foot depths. Gags are still scarce, with one being caught occasionally. All of the snapper in these depths are best targeted using a 2/0 2 hook snapper rig with the sinker on the bottom or a large sabiki rig cut in half to make a 2 or 3 hook rig. Strips of squid on each hook will result in multiple hookups. Stinger rigs with a live sardine or hardtail should be deployed on every bottom stop and will provide a welcome bonus to the bottom fish. We have caught kingfish, mahi-mahi, bonita, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda recently while bottom fishing.