Where have the kingfish gone?

When I was a kid, we would catch kingfish off piers, on boats in the bay, mooching for salmon in the ocean, etc. I have not seen or caught one now in at least 15 years. Anybody have any idea where the white croaker have gone?

Try fishing for halibut outside the jaws at Hmb.  I guaranty you will catch many kingfish! 



-Eliot

I've spent a fair amount of time dunkin bait in the last few years, and was mumbling to mself occasionally darn, not even a kingfish,,,,, pesky bait stealers that they were, so yeah I havn't seen any for a long time either.

I think i caught them all back in my PB days..

still get them in Capitola.

We've had some pretty big rain years that reduce the salinity in the bay....when its drought conditions they're thick.  We were catching them fairly consistently in the southbay up until a couple years ago, I'm glad they're gone, its like God flushed the toilet and they're gone 

I'm sure their may be other environmental fators including water quality and forage but thats my call.

Yup their still in Cap and SC. Although far less then a few years ago. Im thankful for that.

I heard they all went in the Black Bean Sauce

They all grew up and became WSB. 

They all grew up and became WSB. 

    


Like Otter said, I couldn't keep them off the bait in some spots at HMB this year while bouncing for butts.

Yup their still in Cap and SC. Although far less then a few years ago. Im thankful for that.

+1 

+2  fewer and smaller

Good point Andrew.  I used to surf fish in HMB beach 20 yrs ago and get a bucket full of them (many 16+ inches). My grandparents would love eating it, as well as I.
I did catch some small ones this year fishing capitola for halibut.

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Maybe they lived up to there name and croaked?