King Mackerel

King Mackerel Fishing in Florida

King mackerel are managed as two groups, Gulf and Atlantic, split at the Miami-Dade/Monroe county border. In state waters FWC's bag limit is 3 per harvester in Gulf waters and Monroe County and 2 per harvester in Atlantic waters.

Florida rules from FWC and NOAA Fisheries, checked Sep 2026

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Everything here was copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state record

  • 90.00 lb Key West · February 16, 1976 · Norton I. Thomton

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to 72 inches
Where it livesCoastal to offshore, often around piers
What it eatsMostly 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.

Gulf and Monroe County: when you can keep one

Florida Gulf state waters and Monroe County.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
24 inches fork lengthSize limit
3 per harvesterDaily limit. No vessel limit is listed.

Atlantic: when you can keep one

Florida Atlantic state waters, not including Monroe County.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
24 inches fork lengthSize limit
2 per harvesterDaily limit. No vessel limit is listed. In federal waters off Florida's east coast, a 2023 NOAA rule raised the limit to 3 per person, though NOAA's Making Sense of Mackerel page still says 2 per person off Florida. Ask the captain which applies before keeping a third.

Spanish mackerel: when you can keep one

Florida state waters, both coasts.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
12 inches fork lengthSize limit
15 per harvesterDaily limit. FWC lists Spanish mackerel's own daily bag limit: 15 per harvester.

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.