Gulf Kingfish fishing in Florida

Gulf kingfish, often lumped in with southern kingfish as whiting by Florida surf anglers, are the silvery, small-mouthed drum that live right in the breaking surf along both coasts. Unlike the southern kingfish, they prefer the first trough and the wash zone of open sand beaches, often only a few yards from your feet, rooting for sand fleas, coquina clams and small crustaceans stirred up by the waves. They are around much of the year, with the best fishing from fall through spring, and a rising tide with light surf and a little onshore breeze is ideal. Fish a two-hook pompano or double-drop rig with 1 to 3 oz of lead, 12 to 20 lb line and small #4 to #1 hooks, baited with sand fleas, small pieces of shrimp or scented synthetic strips. Short casts into the trough usually beat long casts. Bites are sharp raps; wind steadily rather than striking hard. Whiting are good eating and handle easily, though the dorsal spines and gill covers are sharp. Check current FWC rules before keeping one.