In the January 2010 NSWFM I put together a report about local kingfish over the years; Fish like the one I lost while filming out Day on the Bay DVD, the 12.5kg fish one of Scotty Lyons’ clients caught and many more.

Who could forget the 9kg bruiser caught by John from Fergo’s Tackle World in Port Hacking, and what about Carl Dubois’ 87cm fish that took a soft plastic at the hot water outlet in Botany Bay.

Since then, I have had the pleasure of being on the boat when Andrew Houser caught a 79cm kingfish after a 20-minute battle on 3kg line anchored only 3m from one of the main channel markers in Botany Bay.

Josh Markham, of Picnic Point, was chasing flathead just wide of Towra Point, and hooked a 91cm king that towed him over to the end of the Third Runway and half-way back to The Sticks. Josh played this fish on 6kg line for just on 30 minutes.

This season the kings have increased in numbers and size, meaning anglers will have to make a decision. Do they fish light with 4kg to 8kg gear or go heavy with 15kg to 25kg braid and 40kg leaders?

If I plan to give the fish a sporting chance I choose my Pflueger Trion 3- 6kg rod with Pflueger Medallist 40 reel and 14lb Fireline but if I want one or two for a feed, I go to the Pflueger 8-10kg trolling and live-baiting outfit with 50lb Fireline and 40kg leader.

Kingfish places in Botany Bay this month include Molineaux Point, Henry Head, Kurnell Point, The Drums, the Oil Wharf, the end of the Third Runway, The Sticks, Yarra Bay, Dolls Point, the Cooks River breakwall, La Perouse and any of the marker poles and buoys.

In Port Hacking locate the deep water off Yowie and Gymea bays and troll or anchor over the drop-offs there or work boat moorings and pontoons, the Bundeena and Lilli Pilli wharfs, the deep water in South West Arm, Jibbon Bombora, Shark Island, Osborne Shoals and Merries Reef.

Other targets this month are trevally, bream, tailor and flathead.

Favourite baits are peeled prawns, pink nippers, salted bonito or striped tuna and pilchard tails. Rig with a small ball sinker running directly down to the hook or on a 1m to 2m leader.

When bait fishing at anchor you must berley, it’s as simple as that.

Marc Huisken from Pure Fishing and I have put together an eight-minute session on berleying so to find out more, visit www.purefishing.com.au and click the Pure Fishing TV link. While at the Pure Fishing site you could also read my article in the 0 Armchair Angler section.