nearshore

King Mackerel (Kingfish)

Scomberomorus cavalla

Nearshore live-bait pattern. Smoker kings late spring through fall.

Preferred water temp68–80°F

Preferred depth30–200 ft

Holds onwrecks, bait schools

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 27, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 12 of 12 regulations

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Vessel limit: 6 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

Counts toward vessel's 6-game-fish total. Winter run very strong off Bimini and the eastern Bahamas banks.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

FEDERAL

Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

Federal Gulf: 3/angler/day, 24" FL min.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

Federal South Atlantic: 3/angler/day, 24" FL min.

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

3/person/day, 24" FL min.

Georgia DNR (follows SAFMC).

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

3/person/day, 24" FL min.

NC DMF.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

2/person/day, 24" FL min.

Alabama CNR-MRD (follows GMFMC).

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

2/person/day, 24" FL min.

Mississippi DMR.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

2/person/day, 24" FL min.

Louisiana DWF.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 27″ TL (total length)

3/person/day, 27" TL min.

Texas Parks & Wildlife.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Minimum: 24″ FL (fork length)

3/person/day, 24" FL min.

SC DNR.