King Mackerel

Season in Northeast Florida

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug.

Jacksonville Beach Pier: peak king mackerel fishing mid-April through August at the end of the pier (Lacoss). FWC: king mackerel late spring to early fall offshore. NOAA: rarely in water below 68 F. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

The very end of the Jacksonville Beach Pier, free-lining or drifting live mullet or spot, best on a high falling tide (Lacoss).

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

Florida rules apply; see the regulations file.

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 FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Florida Sportsman (Terry Lacoss, March 2025): pier fishing Jacksonville (Jacksonville Beach Pier) (Angler knowledge)
• Florida FWC: Where to Saltwater Fish (species and seasons by county, Nassau to Monroe) (Official source)
• NOAA Fisheries: king mackerel (Official source)
• SCDNR species profile: king mackerel (Official source)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Northeast Florida