Scomberomorus cavalla
Large mackerel species prized by anglers. Strong fighter found offshore.
Spring and fall peak seasons. Summer fishing also productive. Winter slows.
Trolling live mackerel or large mullet. Chunking over reefs and wrecks.
24" minimum. Verify current federal and state regulations.
Use heavy wire leader — they have sharp teeth. Troll 8–15 knots for best results.
Curated picks for King Mackerel fishing in Florida
Kingfish love a lively blue runner or mullet on a two-hook stinger rig.
Kings short-strike constantly — the trailing stinger hook gets the fish that miss the first hook.
Heavy-duty single-strand wire for kingfish — their teeth are brutal.
Never fish for kings without wire; a single swipe of their teeth ends the fight.
Hard-body trolling lure that dives to 10–15ft — perfect kingfish speed trolling lure.
Trolled at 8–9 knots, this lure triggers reaction strikes from suspended kings.
Workhorse trolling reel with 40lb drag for serious offshore king fishing.
Kingfish can top 40lb and take 200yd runs — don't use undersized gear.
12 spots tracked — click any for tides, weather & local tips
