Fishing: King hoodlum

The skill and agility of a kingfish as he rounds up a school of baitfish is an awesome sight. Often called hoodlums of the deep, once hooked these mighty fish don't play fair and if there's a rock, reef or anchor rope for them to bust you off they will head straight for it.

New Zealand kingfish are some of the largest in the world and are found around most of the coastline.

There are many ways to target kingfish - from lures and poppers to deadbaits - but livebaiting is most effective. Livebaits (the bigger the better) are mostly set out behind the boat under a balloon; this stops the livebait from going into the rocks and acts as an indicator. Always keep a close eye on the balloon as it is easy to tell when a kingfish is close by.

First you'll notice the balloon moving erratically across the water and often the livebait will come to the surface. Some kingfish have a weird sense of humour as I've often watched them harass a livebait for up to 20 minutes before eating it.

Once your livebait has been taken, put the reel in free spool with your thumb on the spool applying enough pressure to stop the line bird-nesting but not enough pressure so that the kingfish knows he is hooked. By now the crew should have the anchor up and be cruising away from the rocks into the deep, clear water as you let out the line. This is what we call 'walking the dog'.

Once in clear water slowly wind in the line and gradually the kingfish will come clear of the reef toward you. Now you can push up the drag and get stuck in.

The rod tip must be kept high so the angle of the line lifts the head of the fish and tires it out. Once gaffed and on board the boat, quickly kill the fish as they'll beat up the boat and don't mind bruising flesh either.