kingfish - surf?

[tunajoe]

headed down to ocmd in a few weeks and will be giving surf fishing a shot - saw they get northern king fish there - guessing high / low hook with bloodworms - anyone else have ideas on using other rigs were i might be able to catch kings plus anything else around

[Grateful Dad]

A hi-lo rig with small hooks should work just fine. You may want to consider picking up some "Fish Bites" red strips in addition to, or in place of, the bloodworms. I have had real good luck with them down in NC. They stay on the hook a lot better, and they are a helluva lot less expensive than bloodworms.

[NJ Dave]

When it's a really good bite a Sabiki rig with regular old Nightcrawler bits works good

[tunajoe]

Appreciate it everyone - who would have guessed nightcrawler in the surf! Thanks for the tip.

[NJ Dave]

Appreciate it everyone - who would have guessed nightcrawler in the surf! Thanks for the tip.

Yea, when it's a quick bite they work. They just dont soak well for prolonged periods if the bite is slow.

[bulletbob]

Its amazes me that so many guys have caught so many kinds of salt water fish on night crawlers.. when I lived in NJ, I tried them every year for flounder, bottom fish, whatever was around.. I don't think I ever even had a single bite on a nightcrawler, .. not even an eel... Must be me, cause lots of other guys have done ok.... I have even brought lake trout and salmon belly strips, for fluke and sea bass.. Never a hit.. The only "fresh water" bait I have ever caught salt water fish on is frozen landlocked alewives, [sawbellies].. they get hammered instantly just like a peanut bunker would... As far as Kingfish, I have always done good on them with small squid strips and clams as well. Cheaper than sea worms... bob

[torchee]

sand fleas are free...
Last time in OC I caught a bunch of big croakers as well but not sure what month I was there