Party Boat next week (2/16-2/19)

[gwpolo5]

I'm making a trip down to miami to see my family next week and thought it would be fun to take my brother on a party boat. It seems that Sea Leggs is the best bet, and I just wanted to see what type of gear you guys recommend to bring on the boat and what type of fish should I plan on catching while out?

[GO4EM]

read this.....http://boatlessfishing.com/forum/viewto ... 27&t=20685

[goodolmikey]

if you are going to be in miami you should try fishing the reward fleet out of government cut,,, I always had a good trip on their boat and they stop for live bait

[Miamipescador]

This time of year you're probably going to be catching kingfish,Bonita,and maybe some tuna. There's always a remora caught and most of the time some nice muttons on the bottom rods.

You can only fish 1 rod but are allowed to take more, I usually take a 20 pound spinner for the kings and Bonita, and a conventional reel with a sturdy rod for bottom.

They provide the bait and if you need weights and hooks ask them as well, theyll cover it.

For the kingfish buy some bucktails in different weights with 3hooks and put a ballyhoo on ot, for bottom cut half a ballyhoo and use the tail section. You'll want to put your hook about half an inch from the tail on a hard spot which is their bone it holds very study there.

[gwpolo5]

Wouldn't a 20# spinner be a little light for kings?

[PhishingPhanatic]

Wouldn't a 20# spinner be a little light for kings?

Not at all.

[Miamipescador]

Ive never had a problem catching them on 20 lb spinners, reels such as a bg 60 and penn 750ss would be more than enough.

Most kings ive caught(upto 25 lbs) make a strong first run but after that they dont fight all that much. Ive heard the bigger ones fight like heck, and that first run burns through line. But with about 250 yards of 20 lb test you shouldnt have a problem.

[gwpolo5]

That's great news! I had thought my sargus would be a bit undergunned for kings. I'm also planning on making a trip down to the key's bridges some time later in the week, anyone else planning on fishing in the keys?

[GO4EM]

Wouldn't a 20# spinner be a little light for kings?

My favorite set up for kings would be my 550 penn spinfisher with 15# pink ande. No leader.

[gwpolo5]

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I've never fished for kings before. From what I hear kings have some serious teeth, so wouldnt they just chomp right through 15# mono? I just got my sargus5000 and am going to spool it up soon and am not sure whether I want 15# or 20# mono, but if 15# can handle the kings I'll go with that for sure just so I have that extra line capacity.

[Miamipescador]

Spool it up with 12 or 15#, that 5000 doesnt hold alot of line though. Id go with an 8000, for the extra line capacity, but hey do with what you have, you should be fine.

On the party boats you will be needing to buy some bucktail jigs in different sizes. All of which will have 3 5/0-7/0 hooks. The colors of the bucktail attracts the kings attention and unless he swallows all three hooks and the bucktail he wont break you off because he wont get to your line.

You might still want to do a uni to uni on your main line to some 50 pound mono just to keep it on the safe side.

[Miamipescador]

O yea forgot to say, you hook a whole ballyhoo to the bucktail jig and just drop it down.

[mmcauliffe]

From what I hear kings have some serious teeth,

YES they do!!! Let a mate handle the first couple you catch. Seems like everyting down here have serious teeth or a "beak".

I wondered the same when I started fishing here (the 15-20# mono for kings) but it seems to work just fine. You will get cut off from time to time to be sure but going with a heavier mono, you won't get as many hits......it's all in the percentages.

Fish 80lb mono for kings and you probably won't lose it due to a cut-off but you'll be lucky to even get a hit.

Fish 20lb mono and you will get a lot more hits. A few cut off's to be sure but you'll bring some in, you'll lose some but most importantly, you'll get more strikes and have a LOT more fun...IMHO.