Fishing for kingfish can be a lot of fun, but you need the right gear to have any success. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best fishing lines for kingfish and give you a few tips on how to use them. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting sport fish!
How To Choose Fishing Line For Kingfish
One of the most important choices you make when fishing for kingfish is choosing the right line. Kingfish are powerful, hard fighting fish that will test your gear to its limits if they are not carefully deployed into the boat. Unfortunately, many anglers use cheap monofilament fishing lines without thinking about it. By doing this, they risk losing their fish and gear due to break-offs or losing their fish because the weaker monofilament fishing line did not have a good enough knot.
Kingfish average from 10 to 20 pounds in weight, so you need to have a strong fishing line capable of holding big fish. But kingfish are also known for being very picky when it comes to baits, so you may hook a fish and it will quickly drop your bait. In this case, you will need a fishing line that is sensitive enough for detecting subtle bites from smaller kingfish.
In the following guide, we will cover some of the most important factors which you should take into consideration when choosing a fishing line for kingfish.
Braid Fishing Line Strength
First, let’s talk about fishing line strength. This is extremely important when targeting kingfish because you will need a very strong fishing line that can handle big fish. When choosing your fishing line for kingfish, make sure the breaking strain (or pound test) is at least 30 pounds and preferably over 40 pounds, especially if you plan on targeting trophy class fish that are larger than 20 pounds. There is nothing more frustrating for a kingfish angler than seeing their prize catch break off because they lightly hooked the fish, but they can’t easily tell how strong their fishing line strength is at night or during rough weather conditions.
Braid Fishing Line Stretch
Most fishing lines stretch to some degree, but braided fishing lines are made with polyethylene or other strong materials which makes them very low in the stretch. This is good news for anglers targeting kingfish because if you do hook a fish that runs hard it will be easier to keep the tension on the line without fear of the line breaking. A good test is to hold your fishing line in your hand, and then give it a quick tug with one hand while holding the spool with the other hand. If you feel any stretch at all then it’s probably not a good choice for kingfish angling.
Light Line For Kingfish
In the past, it was common for kingfish anglers to use heavy line because the fish fought hard. This is still true today, but there are now other factors that should be taken into account when choosing a fishing line for kingfish. For example, many anglers prefer using braided fishing lines because they are super strong and it’s less likely you will lose a fish because of a break-off. But kingfish will often drop your bait if they are not interested, so it’s also nice to have some light fishing line for these kinds of situations. When using a light line, the angler has more strength in pulling up the fish when they do hook up and can apply sufficient pressure on the fish to quickly tire it out before bringing it to the boat.
One of my favorite ways to use a light fishing line is to have a spare spool preloaded with a 20-30 pound braided fishing line in case I do hook into a kingfish that drops my bait or takes off on me. In these situations, you can then switch over and go after the fish without having to re-spool or do anything else, which is very nice. Another advantage of using a braided fishing line for kingfish is that it has very low stretch, so if you feel a solid bite then you know it’s your fish and not just a bump. The only negative aspect of braided fishing lines is that they do cost more than monofilament fishing line, but the advantages outweigh the negatives for kingfish anglers.
Basic Knots For Kingfish Fishing Line
Your basic knots should be a Palomar knot, a Trilene knot and an improved blood knot. The Palomar Knot is very popular because it’s relatively easy to tie, is very strong and does not require any tools to tie it. The Trilene Knot is similar to the Palomar knot, but many anglers prefer it because they feel that it’s even stronger than the Palomar Knot. This is especially important when using monofilament fishing line since it tends to be lower quality with less stretch than braided fishing line. The improved blood knot is used for joining sections of fishing line together and is a very strong knot that anglers purchase pre-made by the foot to save time.
Best Fishing Line For Kingfish
1. Maxima Chameleon Camo Fishing Line
If you’re looking for a good fishing line to catch kingfish, Maxima Chameleon Camo Line is a great choice. It’s a popular fishing line with its high strength of 200lb test and camo color that can blend in perfectly with water conditions. This is also one of the most versatile fishing lines that you can use for various applications such as large saltwater lures or heavy jigs.
2. Sunline Super Natural Fishing Line
This kind of fishing line is made from high-grade copolymer which makes it completely invisible underwater plus it has a remarkable strength of 160lb test line that’s more than enough for your kingfish. Super Natural from Sunline is also one of the most affordable fishing lines on the market, making it a great choice for getting started with saltwater fishing.
3. Sunline Super FC Sniper Fishing Line
This fishing line is made of 100% fluorocarbon material so it’s very thin with a diameter of 0.36mm, making the line practically invisible when submerged with water. The low visibility can be very useful when you’re fishing in skinny water or around the boat. It’s also very strong with 150lb test line that can withstand big game fish like kingfish.
4. Trilene Big Game Monofilament Fishing Line
Trilene Big Game is a popular monofilament fishing line with its thick diameter of 0.40mm and 50lb strength, it can be your best fishing line for catching kingfish in thick cover or deep water. This is also one of the most affordable fishing lines on the market.
5. The Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon Leader
Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon leader is a fluorocarbon line that has been used to catch kingfish for years. It is considered one of the best lines in helping anglers achieve very low visibility under water. It also boasts Japanese Knot Strength Technology (JKST) to help ensure the knot is 100-percent secure. Additionally, Seaguar Blue Label Fluorocarbon leader has one of the lowest refractive indexes in the world which means it is harder for fish to see under water. The line retails for $24.99 per spool and comes with 30 yards of material on each spool.
Conclusion
Kingfish are known to be among the strongest fish in the ocean with their ability to pull hard, especially when they need to escape from anglers. If you’re looking for a good strong fishing line that can hold up under extreme pressure then Maxima Chameleon Camo Line is your best choice. It’s also very affordable, making it easy on your wallet.