King Mackerel regulations
Florida · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected Florida saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Scomberomorus cavalla
speciesBASICA migratory mackerel of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, common in the coastal zone from North Carolina to Brazil and occasionally as far north as the Gulf of Maine.
HABITAT
Coastal zone, commonly at 12–45 m (40–150 ft) where the principal fisheries occur.
SIZE
typically 5–14 kg (11–30 lb); can exceed 40 kg
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
King Mackerel identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for Florida.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 3 per harvester in Gulf state waters and Monroe County; 2 per harvester in Atlantic state waters excluding Monroe County · minimum 24 inches
- APPLICABILITY
- Gulf State Waters and Monroe County selection (3-fish limit). Atlantic state waters outside Monroe County have a 2-fish limit. Minimum size is fork length; both seasons are open year-round.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, King Mackerel recreational regulations
UPDATED January 1, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 17, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
FWC saltwater fishing regulations ↗The FWC page is an informational summary; the Florida Administrative Code and emergency orders are authoritative.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in Florida (9)
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
Florida · DOCK
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
Florida · MARINA
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.