King George whiting is one of the most sought-after species by boat and land-based anglers alike. But what if I told you that I could make chasing them one of the most exhilarating and rewarding forms of fishing as well? Before I get started, I’d like to acknowledge that this form of fishing is more suitable for the boat-based/kayak-based anglers out there, but it is certainly possible to target King George with ultra-light gear from the convenience of the land.
King George whiting are found in many of the inshore coastal environments here in SA, and are particularly fond of intermittent seagrass beds, sand holes and reef that are commonly located between 1-20m of water. They can be found foraging for small morsels in and amongst sand holes, burrowing their mouths beneath the sand in search for worms and small crustaceans. As well as feeding in these sand holes, they can be found hiding and sitting in the seagrass beds, which is why fishing the sand holes is a must, as you are targeting the feeding fish, not the spooked, docile fish.
I have found the most success targeting them from May through to December, peaking between the months of July to September. It is during these months that King George congregate in large schools, feeding heavily in order to gain condition for the approaching breeding season.