Kingies have a very wide distribution, able to be found in rivers and estuaries to in excess of 300m+ deep. They love holding on structure like wrecks, wash zones, reefs, bommies and all manner of man-made structures. Kingfish never stray too far away from food and as such most bait aggregating areas will hold kingfish.

Although kingfish will eat dead baits from time to time, fishing livebaits is a lot more effective way. Slimey mackerel, yakkas, squid, salmon, herring and garfish are all at the top of the menu. Depending on the location, these baits can be trolled, drifted or fished deep. Fishing baits with a two-hook rig is most common to ensure good hook coverage.

Kingies are a great lure fishing target, renowned for their hard fights and aggressive strikes. Popular lures include jigs, particularly in deeper waters, large stickbaits, poppers, metal spinners and vibes. Fishing a fast and aggressive retrieve is one of the best ways to draw a reaction bite.

Kingfish are dogged, dirty fighters that won't give up until they've been landed. Once hooked, they will often head directly for structure, so tackle needs to be capable of applying a lot of pressure. 50-100lb outfits with strong actioned rods should do the job, but still expect a few dustings!