Where to fish for king mackerel
819 charters name king mackerel on their own website, across 200 towns in 2 states.
State records for king mackerel
The heaviest king mackerel each state has certified, biggest first.
| State | Weight | Where | Year | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 4 lb | — | 1973 | Billy Hastingssource |
| North Carolina | 3.5 lb | Bogue Banks Pier | 1971 | Ted Drinnonsource |
| South Carolina | 2.75 lb | Georgetown | 1976 | W. Mobleysource |
| Connecticut | 2 lbs 10 oz | Silver Sands State Park | 2016 | Christopher Sheasource |
| New Jersey | 2.5 lb | Barnegat Bay | 2004 | Chester Urbanskisource |
| Maryland | 2.5 lb | Assateague Island | 1975 | Grace Walkersource |
| Georgia | 2.19 lb | — | 1975 | Harold Guinnsource |
Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.
How big king mackerel run
Federal interviewers measured 2,794 of them on charter trips between 2022–2024. The middle half ran 25.5–39 inches, with a median of 31.3 inches.
Separately, MRIP's catch records for those trips count 2,513 kept against 345 released. That is a different tally from the fish that were measured, not a breakdown of them.
- Florida31.6" median, 2,216 measured
- North Carolina30.4" median, 515 measured
NOAA Fisheries MRIP dockside interviews, 2022–2024. A sample of the fish boats brought in, not a total, and not a forecast for any one trip.
About the fish
FWC says they school and move north from south Florida in spring.
From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.
Which rules apply to your trip
- In Florida state waters, FWC's limit is 3 per harvester in Gulf state waters and Monroe County, and 2 per harvester in Atlantic state waters (not including Monroe County).
- In federal waters off Florida's east coast, a 2023 NOAA rule raised the recreational limit from two to three king mackerel per person, but NOAA's Making Sense of Mackerel page still lists 2 per person off Florida.
- Spanish mackerel have their own FWC limits: 12 inches fork length and 15 per harvester in Gulf and Atlantic state waters.
Harvest rules
When can you keep one in Florida?
Seasons and limits are set state by state, and these are Florida's. King Mackerel is caught by charters in 2 states on this page; ask your captain which rules apply where you are fishing.
Gulf and Monroe County
Florida Gulf state waters and Monroe County.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Atlantic
Florida Atlantic state waters, not including Monroe County.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Spanish mackerel
Florida state waters, both coasts.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Gear rules
For king mackerel the legal gear is hook and line and spearing only. For Spanish mackerel FWC also lists beach or haul seine and cast net.
Questions about king mackerel
How many kingfish can I keep?
3 per person in Gulf state waters and Monroe County, 2 per person in Atlantic state waters, per FWC.
How big do they have to be?
24 inches fork length on both coasts.
Where is the line between the two sets of rules?
The Miami-Dade and Monroe county border. The Gulf group runs from south Texas around to that line; the Atlantic group runs north from it.
What about Spanish mackerel?
Separate limits: 12 inches fork length and 15 per person, open year round.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, king mackerel regulations and FWC, Spanish mackerel regulations and NOAA Fisheries, making sense of mackerel and NOAA Fisheries, 2023 Atlantic king and Spanish mackerel measures and FWC, king mackerel profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.