The king mackerel is a slender, streamlined fish, slightly
flattened from side to side with a tapered head. Its color ranges
from an iridescent bluish green on its back to its silvery sides.
Two dorsal fins can fold back in to a groove to enhance speed, short
pectoral fins on each side just behind the head; pelvic fins below
the pectorals and a row of small finlets extend from the dorsal and
anal fins to the tail. The lateral line starts near the top of each
gill drops sharply below the second dorsal fin and ends near the
tail.
The mackerels are true members of the tuna family and are Western
Atlantic species. Although the Kings don’t have the endurance of the
tuna, they are unmatched for their speed and agility. They are found
both nearshore and offshore and are common form North Carolina to
Brazil. They have preference for water temperature above 20deg.C
(68deg. F) and salinity ranging from 32 to 36 ppt.
The King Mackerel is a schooling and migrating fish that spends
the winter months in south Florida and moves to more northerly
waters in spring / summer. The Gulf population is considered to be
separate from the Atlantic population. The separate populations are
thought to mix in the winter months from east central Florida
southward past Key West.
Spawning occurs in mid-summer north of Miami in the Atlantic and
the northern area of the Gulf of Mexico.
King mackerel are constantly feeding carnivores that can attack
with high speed, powerful jaws and razor-like teeth. They feed on
all and any available food but favor jacks, sea trout, sardine like
fishes, ribbonfish, herring, shrimp and squid.
King mackerel are a highly sought after gamefish. They are a
challenging catch that puts up a spectacular fight by leaping and
sky rocketing out of the water. They are taken on hook and line gear
with both live or dead bait and artificial lures. They can be caught
from shore or pier, from a boat at anchor, drifting or trolling.
Some of the baits used are pogies, thread herring, Spanish sardine,
ballyhoo, mullet, etc. Lures that have shown to be productive are
spoons, jigs and other flashy sub-surface lures or large fish like
plugs.
Fishing gear should be no less than 20-pound line and tackle.
Higher rated tackle may be recommended if you are targeting larger
kings. Usually a heavier wire or mono leader is required to survive
those sharp teeth.
Wilmington Fishing Charters provides fishing excursions for the Wrightsville
Beach, Carolina Beach, Bald Head
Island, Southport and Topsail
areas of coastal North Carolina.
You will fish longer when you cruise aboard our fast 32'
Regulator® Center Console, the Abigail,
for a fasttrip to the fishing hot spots at the Gulf Stream
of Wilmington Fishing Charters specializes in near shore and off
shore sport fishing for:
