King mackerel

US fish and state coverage

Scomberomorus cavalla

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
May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Dec
Typical depth
surface–25+; downrigger/planer deeper; reef edges 60–150 early spring SE FL ft
Typical size
Up to 72 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 to offshore waters. Often around piers. They may occasionally be found in deep water.
Diet
Feed mainly on fishes. feed on small fish and squid and take both natural and artificial baits.
Water type
saltwater

When to fish

Peak months
May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Dec
Good months
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Seasonality
Spawn offshore in mid-summer. Schooling fish that migrate from south Florida waters in winter northward in spring. · FWC Where-to-Fish best times (regional): Late spring, early fall; Late spring, early fall, peak May-Oct.; Late spring-early fall; late spring-early fall; Late spring – early fall; Fall-winter · Year-round presence/fishing opportunity (intentional display).
Migration notes
Schooling fish that migrate from south Florida waters in winter northward in spring.
Bite time of day
early morning flood chum windows commonly cited at inlets
Best time of day
early morning flood chum windows; daytime migration; full-moon nights can fire
Tide effect
flood for chumming near inlet mouths; first of falling tide in deep channel for slow-troll
Preferred tide
flood for inlet chum; first of falling for deep-channel slow-troll; outgoing often best at passes
Tide notes
FS Lacoss Ponce Inlet: early flood chum for smoker kings; first falling → slow-troll ribbonfish mid-channel. FS Sargeant: outgoing tides usually best at passes flushing bait; set up just outside strongest flow along color change.
Moon phase preference
new better for daytime per some FL skippers; full night bite / poor day
Moon notes
SF Mag: Dr. Ray Waldner commercial king boat—full moon nights outstanding, daytime poor; daytime best new moon. Capt. Bouncer Smith: kings feed at night on full → daytime lockjaw.
Water temp notes
Florida Sportsman (Frank Sargeant, Mar 2026): spring run starts when surface water consistently ~68°F; follow temperature curve north. Not an FWC regulation number but strong pro-guide journalistic standard on FS. Summer: deeper wrecks/ledges.
Wind preference
fishable nearshore; calm aids bird/bait spotting
Pressure notes
General coastal pelagic: feed up ahead of fronts.

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Coastal to offshore waters. Often around piers. They may occasionally be found in deep water.
Habitat zone
both
Fishing zone
both
Structure types
inlet/pass · nearshore reef · wreck · beach bait school · channel · hard bottom · color change · ledge
Water clarity salinity notes
Often prefer greener cooler water shoreward of blue Gulf Stream where bait concentrates (FS Sargeant). Color breaks at pass mouths key.
Current flow notes
Pass flush on outgoing; chum slick on flood. Speed 1–2 mph match tide with live baits.
Typical depth
surface–25+; downrigger/planer deeper; reef edges 60–150 early spring SE FL ft

How to catch

Techniques
Kings feed on small fish and squid and take both natural and artificial baits. Live baits include pogies, herring, Spanish sardine, ballyhoo, and mullet. Lures should be flashy sub-surface lures or large fish-like plugs. Use 20-pound line and tackle, or heavier for larger kings, with a wire or mono leader.
Reel type
conventional trolling; spinning live-bait; light conventional for smokers
Drag gear notes
FWC: 20 lb or heavier; wire or mono leader. FS: long fluoro leaders 15–20 ft + short wire stinger; tournament guys sometimes ultra-light; 25–40 lb practical. Planer + Drone spoon meat fish.

Bait & lures

Preferred bait
Kings feed on small fish and squid and take both natural and artificial baits. Live baits include pogies, herring, Spanish sardine, ballyhoo, and mullet.
Preferred lures
Kings feed on small fish and squid and take both natural and artificial baits. Lures should be flashy sub-surface lures or large fish-like plugs.
Bait live
pogies/menhaden · herring · Spanish sardine · ballyhoo · mullet · blue runners · ribbonfish · small Spanish
Bait dead
cut menhaden chum
Lures
flashy spoons · skirted plugs · Drone spoon behind planer · high-speed trolling plugs

Size

Typical size
Up to 72 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
90.0
Record location
Key West
Record date
02/16/1976
Record angler
Norton I. Thomton
Record catch text
90.0 lb; by Norton I. Thomton; on 02/16/1976; at Key West

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 870 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains — Florida

Selected examples from 127 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida charter captains directory

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 581 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 42 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

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

Legacy Florida source profiles

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.