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Kingfish · Cavalla · Sierra

King mackerel

A king mackerel lying on a concrete dock, side view, the lateral line dipping toward the tail
Stephen Ewen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recognition

Iron-gray back and silvery sides and belly, with pale to dusky fins.

NOAA Fisheries

Waters

Often around outer reefs, wrecks, towers and buoys. They may move inshore on higher tides and during summer.

SC DNR

Months

Seasonal

Spawn in South Carolina April to September, move north in spring and early summer, and leave for south Florida in fall. A South Carolina DNR October report lists king mackerel around Folly Beach Pier.

SC DNR · SC DNR

Bait

  • Live bait
  • Trolled lures

Florida Museum

Size and bag limits