Kingfish local fish species facts and Limits. Catching a big Kingfish is the stuff that local anglers dream about. Yellowtail King Fish in Victoria has continued to get better and better in recent years which is wonderful news for local anglers. Kingfish are unparalleled as they possess immense power and for this reason are rapidly growing in popularity as a species to target. Kingies can grow over a meter in length, have amazing fighting qualities, they generally school up in big numbers, are also a renowned table fish and are a very welcome bycatch for those who may have been out in deeper waters targeting species such as Tuna.
Click here to read our detailed guide on targeting Kingfish around Melbourne
Scientific name:
Seriola lalandi
Size & limits:
Minimum legal size of 60cm, with a daily bag limit of 5 over minimum size. Kingfish can grow well over a meter in length, and the small ones are referred to as rats
Bait Recommendations:
Big bait such as a full squid or pilchard has produced good results
Lure Recommendations:
From the boat vertical jigging has been one of the most successful techniques which is done by dropping a vertical jig and hopping it up and down trying to get the attention of a big aggressive king.
Eating Rating:
A renowned good table fish
Rod/Rig setup:
Sports heavy duty setup is required. Something along the lines of 10-15 kilo rod such as a Shimano Terez or Wilson Live Fibre, A food reel option is the Saragose or if you can afford a Daiwa Saltiga or Shimano Stella reel in a 6000 size with 20 to 50 pound line then you cant go wrong.
Best times:
Kingies are generally active between December through to March and can be located during most hours of the day