'NORTHERN KINGFISH'

CELLFISH

CELLFISH

Well-Known Angler
just to add some flavor and luck to this new website, so gonna post something I could look up elsewhere but thought it would be fun to see what NYANGLER surf rats wanna share their experience with the NORTHERN KINGFISH... only caught a few over the years on 8/0 hooks and the Kingfish seems to be a good eating fish. Wanna catch more on those slower days this season, any input greatly appreciated. A half dozen of them would be nice... cellfish...

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We used to catch a lot of kingfish in LI Sound. I grew up fishing the Hempstead Harbor area from the late sixties through the mid 1980's. There were both king fish and weakfish in the Glen Cove area. As a kid I would fish Glen Cove creek and catch kingfish ( and weakfish) by fishing from the old pier/bulkhead just past the old Li Tungsten plant. Did catch a few king fish (single digits) in the Port Jeff area this year. Got a few blowfish as well
 
They were plentiful in the great South Bay up until a few years ago,now pretty much extinct,they are very good eating,taste just like flounder,hope they make a come back..
 
When I was a kid and a lifeguard at Riis park and Fort Tilden the surf guys used to catch them on big hooks intended for stripers daily often.
 
Like Macks said, the GSB used to be loaded with them but they started disappearing several years back. Used to catch a bunch by the bridges. They fight pretty hard for a small fish and they are good eating. I catchthem down here as a bycatch, then again, just about everything you catch on the bottom down here is by catch lol.
 
About four years ago I was catching some large blues from the surf and wondered why they were in so close. Kingfish. One washed up (actually it swam up onto the beach with a big wound in its tail.) Made better eating than the choppers. I would target them if they were around, but about as rare as a winter flounder where I fish.
 
Don't throw em back. They mostly eat shrimp, crab and molluscs and other invertebrates. I do not eat them but give them to friends. Many of who like them better than blackfish.They are a schooling fish. The few times I target, them, there is no C & R. Only a take no prisoners harvesting. PM me if u want to know more on where and how .I have 2 surf locations in central south shore and one location in Reynolds Channel.They are indeed rare so I will not spot burn but will share if u PM me. Otherwise for u boaters, check out The Fisherman starting in early August for Silly Lilly and Captree B& T. I have been told the kingfish are almost as good as blowfish and flounder.:)?CIAO, John
 
that’s good info PopeJohn, basically it’s a bit of a hit & miss of when & where the kingfish will be in any quantity, thanks... cellfish...
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july thru sept any southshore ocean beachfront tanden rigged #4 beak hooks clams for bait .look for a slough behind a outer bar most times right up on the lip of the surf.Should keep you into kingfish till the bass come home. Look for places the have lots of sand fleas (mole crabs) the kings wont be far.
 
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