Scomberomorus cavalla or The Florida King Fish goes by many names. It is referred to as the King Mackerel. People spell the fish’s name as King fish or Kingfish, or king mackerel – they are all the same fish. These are large schooling fish that hunt in packs for herring and sardines. They are migratory and are most often a winter season target for charter boats. The record for a king mackerel caught in Florida is 90 pounds. That’s a lot of fish.
A lot of anglers come to Florida to fish for big, trophy fish and the king mackerel is one of the top choices. These are deep sea fish that prefer cooler waters. Florida has a range of fishing options, but deep sea fishing is how and where you find those bigger fish that like cool water. The inshore sports often have warmer water. To target king fish, you need to go deep sea fishing.
What is Deep Sea Fishing in Florida? Generally, it is fishing waters that are more than 100 feet deep. That’s usually about 20-miles offshore. That is not to say that you cannot catch King Fish inshore, you can.
Where To Catch Kingfish in Florida
Two things drive Kingfish. First is water temperature. They love a narrow band of cool water temperatures – usually somewhere between 75 °F and 85 °F. That temperature range can move from inshore to deep sea fishing during different times of the year. For the most part, King Mackerel fishing is a deep sea fishing adventure.
We mentioned that two things drive kingfish. The second is baitfish. King mackerel feed on schools of baitfish. These include sardines and herring and other species that school.
Kingfish Season in Florida
The actual season for king fish will vary based on where you are in Florida. The easiest way to do that is to check with the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Branch which can tell you where you can legally fish for king mackerel in Florida. The reason that the season is complicated is that there are regulations for both the Gulf of Mexico waters and the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, the waters in one area may close if the federal waters adjacent to it also close. It is best to check if the area you want to fish in is open or closed.
Peak King Fish season is March 1 – July 1 – The season is open all year long but will close when anglers land a specific number of king fish. The rules for catching king mackerel also follow the federal rules even if the Florida State rules state something different.
Targeting King Fish
Kingfish are highly mobile. They are hungry fish that are usually chasing schools of baitfish. One of the best places to find them is around structures. If you are offshore you can target the waters around oil platforms. The baitfish will ball up around structures that attract predatory fish, such as kingfish.
King fish have 30 sharp teeth in their mouth. The triangle-shaped teeth make short work of baitfish and will shred your line. A good tip for rigging to fish king mackerel is to use a steel leader.
What To Use as Bait for Kingfish
Because the primary food of king fish is baitfish, you want to use dead baits such as silver eels, sardines, and larger minnows. You can also fish minnow pattern soft plastics. Understand that king fish are visual hunters. They are looking for that silver flash from baitfish. Whatever your rig, it should look like a baitfish. An adult king fish will target larger baitfish that are between 5-6 inches long. They may target shrimp, squid, and crustaceans too. A good tip for choosing the right baitfish is to target pogies (menhaden) – You can catch these yourself with a throw net. You can also try a bait store.
Kingfish Fishing Techniques to Hook a Kingfish
Slow trolling is one of the best ways to target kingfish. Keep in mind that they are chasing baitfish and adjust the speed of the boat to match the swimming prowess of baitfish – not very fast.
You can rig with live bait, dead bait, or soft plastic baits. The key is that lovely silver shine that baitfish offer.
Chumming for Kingfish is another option. While mostly visual feeders, they will hunt by smell. The oily baitfish are best – think sardines and be sure to put out a lot of chum. Kingfish charters may offer you a choice between trolling and chum fishing. Depending on the length of your charter you may want to try both.
The King Fish Cobia Connection
Don’t be overly surprised if you attract cobia while targeting kingfish. Kingfishing Florida is a good way to meet cobia. The techniques are very similar. A slow trolling method in open water or around a structure can bring in both king fish and cobia. Live bait, dead bait, and flashy silver minnows in soft plastic will work on cobia or king fish.
Kingfish Regulations in Florida
The season for king fish changes often throughout the year. It is best to check the regulations before you head out to fish for king fish. You can do that by visiting NOAA or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
In general:
- King Fish need to be 24-inches Fork Length
- You can only take three fish per person per day in Gulf Coast Waters and only two fish per day per person in the Atlantic.
- Sports anglers may not use nets to catch king mackerel.
Tips for Going on Kingfish Charters
Early morning charters and twilight charters can be the best times to target kingfish. An overnight charter means that you can take six king mackerel rather than just three.
King fish fishing can be very active. You can limit out quickly, so expect to target more than kingfish if you do. Another good target is cobia, and you might also find Yellowfin around deep structures.
An 8-hour fishing charter can be a very long day if you are not comfortable. Be sure to dress in layers so that you can adjust to the changing weather throughout your charter. Wind, rain, and saltwater are going to be a common part of your day. Dress to beat the wind and stay dry. Sunscreen and polarized sunglasses are a must to beat the sun. Run through a checklist of what to bring.
Ready to get started on deep sea fishing for King Mackerel? The Finest Kind Charters offers a comfortable boat with modern equipment and all the gear you need to target king mackerel. For a family-friendly fishing adventure in Destin, Florida, set sail with the Finest Kind Charters.