Auckland Kingfish

[Jax]

Hi Mike; Congrats on your Kingfish on a fly. I am yet to got one to play with me. Looking forward to seeing the Pics. Most folks have no idea how strong a Kingfish can be on a fly rod and boy do they sort out any weaknesses in your tackle. GREEN with Envy. Jax

[tailingloop]

Fantastic! On our side of the ocean we call them Yellowtail and they are perhaps the most prized gamefish on the southern California coast. I have got a few over the years on fly tackle but fly rod shots here are fairly infrequent with most coming on live bait or jigs fished near the bottom. A great sport fish and great table fare too. Hamachi anyone?

One of my dreams it to get back to New Zealand and target Kingfish while I am there.

[Mike Thomas]

Thanks Jax, hope you get some soon, Tauranga is a hotspot!
Tailingloop they have a few names down here, I think the full name is Yellowtail Kingfish, but mostly we call them kingi's, I have caught many of the bigger ones on live bait and jigs in deep water. The smaller "Rat" kings tend to spend summer in this area hanging around the chanel markers so they can be targeted on fly, but you have to hang on once hooked up or they are straight back to the mark to bust you off!
Here are a couple of pics.
Me looking chuffed with my first ever on fly

A better one.

and this is were we fished.

All the best.
Mike

[Jax]

NICE very NICE!! That is one sweet Kingfish Mike. I am still living in hope. Fishing the Flats with great enthusiasm. Keep on having fun. jax

[Thunderthumbs]

Nice fish, Mike. Here is a picture of my first one on the fly, what a fight! We were fishing kelp paddies in the blue water 80 miles out from the Mexican coast.

texas trip 061.jpg

TT.

[Mike Thomas]

Nice fish, Mike. Here is a picture of my first one on the fly, what a fight! We were fishing kelp paddies in the blue water 80 miles out from the Mexican coast.

Attachment 9820

TT.

Nice Fish TT, that is a lovely one on a fly rod, looks like the same fly I was using!
All the best.
Mike

[Thunderthumbs]

Thanks,
I have the picture framed with a few other from that trip. I have what's left of the actual fly (same one as in the picture) stuck into the frame of the picture. I love living that one over and over.

TT.