Destin help

[longcast]

I need some help. I do not know **** about offshore fishing. The ? I have is about trolling for kings. I ran a rig with live bait I caught at the pass and a artificial bait I had luck on last year. 2 hook up and I lost both fish. Dang it. First fish hit live bait and turned out to be a 5-6 lb shark I lost at boat due to it became unbuttoned.pissed. I have video. Second strike was artificial and was lost due to drag to tight.can someone tell me a little about trolling. Thanks. Rookie mistake.

[Hebert]

where you using a steel leader about 3 ft long? if not they will bite through your line.... also its best to rig a stinger hook on your bait......dead cigar minnows work just fine......troll about 6-7 knots..

[longcast]

Yes I was. I still had the leader and treable hook. If u have a email I can send u the video from iPhone in the am. I was trolling hard tails I think. I should take more pics.

[Ray]

Use a swivel, but not one with a snap.
Use a steel leader cause of the teeth.
If you use a small reel, you will lose it, Kings will spool a reel quick, fast and in a hurry.
But once they give up, they are easy to bring in. But they have a big burst of speed and energy when first hooked.
If you know they are around, you can "drift fish", just a leader, hook and swivel, no weight. Throw it as far as possible, set the clicker and wait. When they run with it, lock the reel release and set the hook.
If you troll, use something like a diving lure with a big lip or a spoon. Anything flashy like chrome or stainless steel.
You will catch more slow trolling than fast trolling. Go around 7 or 8 knots.

[longcast]

Thanks Ray. U are the man. How far should the bait be behind the boat.

[Ray]

Depends on how many you are pulling.
I pulled 2 about 40 yards or more behind me and outside and 1 or 2 about half that far, but closer to center, behind the motor.
You never know where they will hit. The wheel wash sometimes attracts fish.