Fish guide
Gulf Kingfish
Menticirrhus littoralis. Also called Whiting, Sea mullet, Silver whiting.
Showing the fish for Upper Texas coast, Galveston.
Season in Upper Texas
Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
TPWD Sea Rim tip sheet: whiting (listed as southern kingfish) in the surf winter and spring. Port Arthur News: Gulf kingfish arrive at the beachfronts in winter in small schools. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Panhandle | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Alabama | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Small schools in the winter surf at Sea Rim, McFadden Beach and Bolivar, on dead shrimp or cut bait on the bottom (Port Arthur News).
On the bottom in the surf zone, the troughs and around the bars.
What to look for
Silvery all over without dark marks and a blackish tip on the tail; southern kingfish lack the dark tail tip (Florida FWC).
Bait
Fresh shrimp, Sand fleas (mole crabs), Bloodworms, Fish Bites. Two-hook bottom rig (high-low), No. 2 or 4 long shank hooks.
Leader
Light two-hook bottom rig with No. 2 or 4 long shank hooks.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too big for a small mouth
- Casting far past the fish; they feed close in
Landing
Swing it up or slide it in on a wave.
Handling
No special hazards.
Keep or release
Texas lists no bag or size limit for southern kingfish (TPWD Sea Rim sheet); see the regulations file.
Typical: About 11 to 12 in. Large: Up to 18 in. SC kingfish (whiting) record 2 lb 12 oz (1976), all kingfish species combined.
Limits
FishOS has not checked the TX limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you keep a fish.
Sources
- TPWD Sea Rim State Park fishing tip sheet, PWD LF P4504-055I (1/26), with a surf/marsh season column per species (Official source)
- Port Arthur News, Chester Moore Jr., Nov 19, 2016: don't forget winter surf (Sea Rim, McFadden, Bolivar) (Angler knowledge)
- Carolina Sportsman: Carolina whiting bite (water temperature, tides, baits; Murrells Inlet) (Angler knowledge)
- Florida FWC: Gulf kingfish profile (Official source)
- FishBase species summary: Menticirrhus littoralis (Official source)
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: kingfishes (sea mullet) (Official source)
- SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
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