If you are not fishing the 42 degree layer, you are missing out on big kings NO MATTER HOW EARLY IT IS! Last year offshore in May, June and July, we took a lot of kings down DEEP in 40 - 42 degree water. We did not get a ton down there every trip but when we got one it was a mature king for sure. I always spread my rigs out below, in and abov ethe thermalcline. There are always kings feeding out of temp or sitting down in ice water to get away from the sun light.