Southern kingfish

US fish and state coverage

Menticirrhus americanus

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Up to 19 inches
Catch minimum
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Coastal waters. Common in surf zones along beaches. Also in shallow coastal waters with a muddy-sand bottom as well as high salinity bays and estuaries along the coast.
Diet
Feeds on fishes and invertebrates.
Aliases
whiting
Water type
saltwater

When to fish

Good months
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Seasonality
FWC Where-to-Fish best times (regional): Winter-spring; Year-round

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Coastal waters. Common in surf zones along beaches. Also in shallow coastal waters with a muddy-sand bottom as well as high salinity bays and estuaries along the coast.
Habitat zone
inshore
Fishing zone
inshore

How to catch

Techniques
Longevity is 4 to 6 years.

Bait & lures

Not in the source.

Size

Typical size
Up to 19 inches

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

state record evidence

Source context: Florida

Record type
florida state
Record weight lb
2.8
Record location
Santa Rosa Beach
Record date
04/07/2021
Record angler
Sidney H. Little
Record catch text
2.8 lb; by Sidney H. Little; on 04/07/2021; at Santa Rosa Beach

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 230 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains: no matching local listing in the source for this species.

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 105 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 2 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

For other linked states, local listings are not in the source yet; use the state and species guides above.

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.