King Mackerel

Season in Middle Texas

Port Aransas tourism lists kingfish year-round (offshore charters included); Sea Rim and South Padre say spring and summer for shore and jetty anglers. Charted for shore and nearshore. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Port Aransas jetty and pier ends, mostly summer.

Beyond the pier end.

What to look for

Clean green water at the pier end, bait schools.

What to throw

Swimming minnow plug (Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow style)3/4 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in. Steady medium retrieve with occasional twitches and pauses.

Bait

Live menhaden (pogies), Live bluefish or mullet. Trolley/anchor rig, #4 to #6 wire stinger with 2 to 3 trebles.

Leader

Wire stinger rig.

Landing

Gaffed from piers by experienced anglers.

Handling

• Very sharp teeth
• Violent when landed

Keep hands clear of the mouth; subdue before unhooking.

Keep or release

Mercury advisories apply (LSU). Texas rules apply.

Recipes for king mackerel

Typical: About 33 in, 10 lb. Large: 15 to 40 lb from piers. SC record 62 lb (1976).

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

• Port Aransas and Mustang Island Tourism: fishing (species season and bait table, piers) (Angler knowledge)
• TPWD Sea Rim State Park fishing tip sheet, PWD LF P4504-055I (1/26), with a surf/marsh season column per species (Official source)
• South Padre Island CVB: Bay and offshore fishing guide (species notes) (Angler knowledge)
• SCDNR species profile: king mackerel (Official source)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Middle Texas