King Mackerel

20 - 40 lbs.

Kingfish, Sierra, Cavalla

Kingfish/King mackerel are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. They are a “coastal pelagic” species, meaning they live in the open waters near the coast in water 115 to almost 600 feet deep. King mackerel prefer warm waters and seldom enter waters below 68 degrees F. They migrate with seasonal changes in water temperature and with changes in food availability. Swimming in large schools, they migrate to the northern part of their range in the summer and to the southern part in the winter. Often found in outer reef areas. Larvae are encountered in surface waters of 26.3° to 31°C and 26.9 to 35 ppt. Feeds primarily on fishes with smaller quantities of penaeid shrimps and squids. Large schools have been found to migrate over considerable distances along the Atlantic US coast, water temperature permitting. It is an important species for recreational, commercial, and artisanal fisheries throughout its range.

Maximum age recorded is 14 years for females and 11 years for males. Females living for up to 26 years and males for up to 24 years were documented fish over the age of 20 years were rare. Only 0.28% of females and 0.30% of males caught were over 20 years of age. King mackerel are iron-gray on the back and silvery on their sides and belly. They have pale to dusky fins. Small king mackerel sometimes have spots like Spanish mackerel, but king mackerel can be distinguished by their sharply dipping lateral line and gray anterior (near the front) dorsal (the upper side) fin. Unlike other members of Scomberomorus, the kingfish lacks a black area on the anterior portion of the first dorsal fin. The kingfish has 12-18 spines in its first dorsal fin; 15-18 rays in the second dorsal fin, which are followed by 7-10 finlets; and 21-23 pectoral fin rays. Its body is about five times the size of its head, and about six times as long. The entire body is covered with scales, except for its pectoral fin. The lateral line drops sharply after the second dorsal fin, and then continues on to the tail. The kingfish also lacks scales on the pectoral fins. The kingfish is a silver fish with indistinct bars or spots on its side. The dorsal surface is black with iridescent tones of blue and green. Young fish have small bronze spots in 5 or 6 irregular rows. Kingfish have 30 triangular teeth aligned closely together. As the largest species in its genus, the kingfish grows to 19.7-35.4 inches in length. The maximum size reported of the king mackerel is 72.4 inches and 99 pounds.

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Canada to Massachusetts, USA to São Paulo, Brazil. Eastern Central Atlantic: St. Paul's Rocks
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

	Trolling A trolling boat has multiple outriggers, poles and lines attached that use lures dragged across the ocean surface at speeds of 4 – 10 knots. Large beefy hooks are used with special durable lures allowing the fisherman to easily unhook the gamefish that has been caught and quickly get their lines back into the water. The larger the lures, the larger the potential fish, the larger the hooks. A tuna boat will usually make slow wide circles when trolling. A billfish boat will usually work ledges, fathom lines, zig zag area coordinates or make trolling circles if bait or a porpoise school is located and/or if they are fishing a FAD..
	Gill nets Gill-nets are the dominant gear in the Indian Ocean. Gill-nets are used in artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries, contributing to 30-40% of the total catch. The net design is comprised of continuous panels of uniform mesh size, aimed to trap fish behind the gills. The International Sustainable Seafood Foundation (ISSF) notes that rates of sharks and turtle by-catch in Indian Ocean gill-net fisheries are high..
	River Drift River Drift means to use the....
	Trawling Trawling is when....

Trollers generally choose ocean outfits with lines testing form 20-40 pounds, but kings of all sizes can be caught on spinning, baitcasting and even fly tackle. Spoons trolled behind planers are good, as are rigged Cigar Minnows and feather-minnow combinations. Fishing with Pilchards as both chum and live bait could be the most productive system of all, but drifting with rigged baits, strips or live baits, including live shrimp, is effective too. For casters, spoons and nylon jigs usually work best. Fly rodders do well with shiny flies on sinking lines.

Available Sizes: 34 - 66 in. Details: Fired-Enamel Glass Eye Product Options: Wood Plaque, Custom Base, 360°