Anyone Trying Kite Fishing Out West?

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by SoCalEDC

I have seen a few guys kite fishing off of their boats out here. I know its a big time technique in Florida. They usually target sailfish out there with the kite right?

The first kite anglers in sailfish tournaments were so successful at winning, that a few tournaments banned them. Nowadays they are the primary method for targeting Sailfish in Florida. Kites also produce incidental wahoo, king mackerel, blackfin and yellowfin tuna, Mahi, and any other pelagic that happens to swim by -- even swordfish.

Bluefin and Yellowfin are fluke incidentals off SE Florida, sometimes after an East wind -- blowing bait and predators over from the Bahamas or when the BFT's are migrating into the GOM to spawn. In the Bahamas, a yummy fake flying fish is sometimes trolled off a kite. I don't think anyone is using fresh frozen flying fish like the West Coast. The fishery is less predictable.

Kites are a challenge off a kayak, and not enough trying it to note any worthy catches. The potential is there.