kingfish at rotto

Hey guys.

Am heading over to meet a friend at rotto on friday. given the ban is on, i thought id try trolling for some pelagics, or i have heard there are some bommies out towards west end whcih can sometimes produce kingfish with stick baits etc.

Have never caught a kingfish (except for a 30cm one at the fads... go figure!)  so was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? and am i in the right tim of year? and if this area is worth a try? just  want to know if its a waste of time or not? Also any suggestions on lures and sizes etc?

Also i noted that on the maps cape vlamingh is a demersal sanctuary, just checking can still fish for other species here?

thanks for any info!

cheers

Goat.


davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 Hi Sea Goat I've caught a lot

Wed, 2021-11-10 16:28

 Hi Sea Goat 

I've caught a lot of YTK's at Rotto and lost just about as many!. Trolling divers or small skirts around West End and into the chicken run on the south side is productive. Radar Reef is a spot to cast stickbaits but you can only do that if the swell is basically non-existent. Hooked a monster there on a baitcast mulie and we then led it away into open water but as soon as I applied pressure he bricked me. Be very careful and vigilant anywhere around West End as it can be hairy!

We've also caught smaller great eating sized ones in Strickland Bay and Salmon Bay livebaiting with herring. Just use the smallest ones you can find. We just suspend them about 1.5m below a glitter float on a sharp hook. 

Spring and summer are great times to fish for kingies.

Cheers

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 PGFC member and lure tragic

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Date Joined: 26/03/17

thanks heaps mate! thats

Wed, 2021-11-10 14:57

thanks heaps mate! thats awesome info. might look at grabbing a few herring before heading over!

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 No worries mate. No better

Wed, 2021-11-10 16:28

 No worries mate. No better place to catch herring than Rotto! We used to catch them in the bays where we were going to fish.

I'm sure there are lots of other good spots but these all worked in the past.

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 PGFC member and lure tragic

uncle's picture

Posts: 9474

Date Joined: 10/02/07

Caught quite a few at West end

Thu, 2021-11-11 14:42

 But I anchor  and burly and use mulies

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all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 West End sanctuary zone is

Fri, 2021-11-12 10:30

 West End sanctuary zone is trolling only these days Unc.

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 PGFC member and lure tragic

uncle's picture

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Date Joined: 10/02/07

Yeh I know

Fri, 2021-11-12 11:43

 Plenty of good ground to anchor  and burly up for pinks YTKs and macks

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all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 Good for salmon most years

Fri, 2021-11-12 12:20

 Good for salmon most years too

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 PGFC member and lure tragic

uncle's picture

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Date Joined: 10/02/07

Check out Jazz charters

Fri, 2021-11-12 14:30

 Last trip out!

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all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs

Posts: 961

Date Joined: 26/03/17

thanks guys. didnt end up

Mon, 2021-11-15 10:50

thanks guys. didnt end up making it out there due to weather, but will keep this in mnd for next good day!

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 It's hit and miss fishing

Mon, 2021-11-15 11:10

 It's hit and miss fishing but more hits than misses as a rule so try next time you're over there.

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 PGFC member and lure tragic

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Date Joined: 26/03/17

definitley will. was spewing,

Mon, 2021-11-15 13:26

definitley will. was spewing, as we made it to porpoise bay, but weather window was a bit limited and didnt want to get stuck out at west edn if it turned, so eneded up pulling up in porpoise bay for a swim, then a donut at the bakery! still an awesome day, but super excited to give the kingies a try! next bucket list fish!

davewillo's picture

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Date Joined: 08/09/16

 They'll still be there mate!

Mon, 2021-11-15 16:17

 They'll still be there mate!

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 PGFC member and lure tragic