1092 
FOREST AND STREAM 
THE KINGFISH AND THE KING OF FISH 
HE IS NOT SO BIG AS SOME OF HIS MARINE 
COUSINS BUT HE IS AN ANTAGONIST WORTH WHILE 
By Leonard Hulit. 
C ONTEMPORANEOUS with the arrival of 
the striped bass along the New Jersey coast 
is the kingfish. While there is a wide dif¬ 
ference between the two species in all particu¬ 
lars; still the subject of this sketch is a prime 
angler’s favorite and growing in importance with 
each succeeding season. When taken under well 
considered conditions and with proper tackle he 
affords much excellent sport, and as a table deli¬ 
cacy is inferior to but few of our many choice 
coast line fishes. . . 
Like many others of our well known varieties, 
the kingfish is known by many names and it does 
seem peculiar that any fish whose characteristics 
are so well distinguished should have so many 
titles. Many years since a well known writer, 
commenting on this subject, observed that there 
should be a revision of fish nomenclature, and 
each specie be given as well defined a name as 
our birds and animals have. 
The kingfish is known as such about New York 
waters and along the New Jersey coast as far 
south as Manasquan Inlet, where we find the 
name Barb is quite generally in use among the 
native fishermen. The same applies throughout 
the Barnegat district and down to the Delaware 
Capes, where from there southward the names 
Sea-Mink, Black Mullet and others are in use 
until it appears to lose its identity wih the surf 
whitings of the Southern waters. 
And at this point another confusion enters in 
relation to this much misunderstood fish. 
While no intention of controversy with stu¬ 
dents of genera and species is in mind, still just 
where the line of demarcation between the king¬ 
fish of the North and the surf whiting of the 
South begins and ends would be most interesting. 
I have studied them under all conditions and, 
save in coloration, can find no difference. The 
conformation of fin, body and all other physical 
points are identical. But the difference in color 
is most pronounced. When first taken from the 
water our kingfish have beautiful bronze lateral 
stripes, which is entirely lacking in the Southern 
fish, which is of a very even silvery white, but 
sometimes to a dark grey on exposure to the air, 
but the lateral stripes are at all times absent. 
As is well known to ichthyologists, habitat has 
much to do with the colors of many of our fishes. 
This may be true of the kingfish, as where they 
are most abundant in the South, the bottoms are 
uniformly white, and as nature provides so many 
shields to her children against their enemies, this 
may well be another scheme, as a dark fish looms 
up strongly against a light background. How¬ 
ever, the family tree of our valued friend may 
not be so important in this sketch as his rela¬ 
tion to hook and line. 
The kingfish has a coast range from about 
Cape Ann in the North until he becomes lost in 
confusion with the surf whiting along the Caro¬ 
lina coast. It usually makes its appearance along 
the New Jersey coast about the first of May, and 
is taken quite freely in the ground nets during 
the two following months, moving inshore and 
out as the water temperature, which is. very er¬ 
ratic at this season of the year, suits its fancy. 
Its spawning habits are not at all well under¬ 
stood, although the ova seems well developed on 
arrival in the spring. 
Still I have examined many specimens well ad¬ 
vanced in the autumn months. This is a peculi¬ 
arity most marked. Another noticeable feature 
is that of the fish taken on the hook. Perhaps 
four out of every five fish are females. Whether 
or not the females predominate so greatly or 
whether the gravid fish are so much more eager 
for food, must be left to conjecture; that per¬ 
haps the greatest number spawn during the early 
summer months must be conceded and that they 
do ascend the rivers along our coast to perform 
this function cannot well be denied, although 
many writers assert that nothing has been learned 
in this relation. The fact, however, that during 
the early autumn months myriads of the fry are 
to be found in the quiet waters of the sand 
beaches near the mouth of our coastal streams, 
is an argument so patent that the parent fish have 
deposited their spawn well up stream during the 
early season as to admit of small doubt. 
To the angler the kingfish is full of intent and 
is growing in importance rapidly. While so 
many of our very important fishes show a 
marked diminution in numbers, this species ap¬ 
parently holds out well against the various agen¬ 
cies of distinction. Like most other varieties, 
it appears to be much more plentiful some years 
than in others, yet the past four seasons have 
given better catches than a corresponding period 
previous. The kingfish can be taken on many 
baits, such as clams, sandworms, bits of fish, etc. 
The two baits which can always be depended on 
are the white or blood worm and shedder crab. 
The Rig Should Be Much Lighter Than Used in 
Bass Fishing-Although of the Same 
General Make-Up. 
Like. almost all varieties of fish, the kingfish is 
taken in all sorts of tackle, and frequently when 
fishing for others. Yet to get the true enjoy¬ 
ment from the sport the fisherman should go 
forth equipped especially for it and lend his en¬ 
deavor to the sole direction of the game. 
We will consider first the quest in the open 
ocean, where, undoubtedly, the best sport is to 
be obtained. The rig should be much lighter 
than that used in bass fishing, although of the 
same general make-up. 
A i-o reel with light caliber rod and a line of 
9 thread weight is good. A sinker just heavy 
enough to place the bait is sufficient, no matter if 
it tumbles about in the surf somewhat. 
That is an advantage rather than an objection. 
The leader should be short—never more than a 
foot in length; the reason for this will be ex¬ 
plained later on. 
And now the most important part of the out¬ 
fit—the hook! Just here I expect criticism, as I 
have met it in the past. While the kingfish can 
be and has been taken on many sizes and makes 
of hook, still mv belief is firm that the i-o first 
quality sproat hook is the ideal one. The mouth 
of the kingfish is of peculiar shape and located 
just under a protruding upper jaw. The hook, 
being very low from bend to point, appears to fit 
well;'this formation is easily gorged and where 
well embedded holds extremely well. 
With us the kingfish seldom exceeds two 
pounds in weight. While we have records of 
three pounds and over, still the average is below 
the first figure. 
When in quest of this quarry exclusively the 
angler needs to exercise his wits at all times, as 
this fish is a most erratic feeder—-now at the 
points of bars or away out in the fiats or again 
in the deepest waters of the cuts along the beach. 
Practice, however, teaches its lesson, and the apt 
student will soon learn that at low water the 
distant points of bars are usually productive of 
best, results. Then, as the tide advances, shorter 
casting can be pursued until at high water, di¬ 
rectly behind the swells as they break on the 
beach, good catches can frequently be had, but 
so erratic are they in their feeding habits that a 
catch at a given point at one time argues nothing, 
for another time they are a game which must be 
persistently followed up, allowing no apparently 
favorable points to go untried. 
The kingfish will take the bait at any stage of 
the tide and bites equally well day or night, but 
the flood tide is usually the most favorable and, 
as before mentioned, as the tide advances shorter 
casts may be made, as the fish usually work 
shoreward with the tide, feeding on the Crustacea 
as it is laid bare by the action of the water. 
The strike of this fish is peculiar, and once 
felt, is rarely mistaken for that of any other fish. 
Accustomed to wrenching loose mussels, and 
other like creatures from their moorings, the 
movement is a series of nervous twitches as 
rapid as thought and yet extremely vigorous. 
The man of experience when out for kingfish 
seldom allows himself to be off his guard; his 
line must be kept taut, and his mind continually 
on the work at hand, as the rapidity with which 
this fish can steal a bait and get away is most 
remarkable. It is here where the short leader 
plays its important part, as the instant the strike 
is felt, the angler brings the rod sharply up, and 
the less slack or swing there is to the outfit the 
greater the certainty of success. In river and bay 
fishing, a good black bass bait casting rod may 
be used and the same bait as for surf fishing, 
selecting the spots where the water swirls around 
points of bars or near some sunken object, where 
the waters have worn out basins. If not too 
deep a float may be used, which affords fine 
sport, always bearing in mind the fact that the 
bait must be kept near the bottom, when taken on 
tackle as described. 
The pastime is of a higher order as we have 
no fish of enual weight that is more full of fight, 
and the determined resistance the little kingfish 
sets up is truly remarkable. The saying that it 
is not all of fishing to “catch fish” might well be 
amended to read that it is not all of “catching 
fish” to catch “big fish.” There are but few pas¬ 
times which afford greater pleasure to him who 
is in need of the restful hour and knows when 
and how to drop his hook to the luring of the 
sprightly kingfish. If he is successful, he is wel¬ 
comed home the possessor of a marine tid-bit 
worthy the palate of the most pronounced epi¬ 
cure. 
