The Bahamas King Mackerel

The kingfish, also known as the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) is a migratory species of fish that belongs to the tuna family. Unlike the northern kingfish (croaker) which is much smaller and regulated to the eastern seaboard inlets and estuaries, the king mackerel is a larger commercial and recreationally-caught game fish that appears in heavy concentrations in the Gulf Coast region, Florida and the Bahamas. They are found in offshore or inshore waters and extend in range from North Carolinas to as far south as Brazil. They are most commonly sought after when Offshore fishing in the Bahamas where they are known for their fighting temperament and robust size.

Physical Description
The king mackerel ranges in size from a young five to 30 pounds, but adults may average around 40 to 65 pounds and exceed 90 pounds in some cases. The body is torpedo-shaped, slightly flattened on the sides and contains very minute scales that are loosely attached. It has a spiny, double dorsal fin that is translucent and folds back into a body groove, as does the pelvic fins. It has a row of smaller fins that extend from the dorsal and anal region to the tail. Coloration ranges from an iridescent to an olive green on the back that fades into a silver on the sides, sometimes having a pinkish hue between the darker and lighter contrasts. The belly is predominantly white. Fish under 10 pounds may show yellowish-brown spots on the side flanks. The teeth are sharply pronounced and uniformly spaced with flattened profiles on each side.

Habitat and Distribution
The king mackerel is common in the subtropical-type waters of the Atlantic Coast in the Americas. Its northern reaches start at North Carolina and range as far south as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has been caught and observed as far north as the Gulf of Maine, but the sightings are few and inconsistent. It is especially prolific in the Key West and Bahamas island chains and prefers water temperatures ranging from 66 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They commonly seek depths of between 40 to 150 feet in and around inlets close to shore, although the larger, more robust individuals may travel at depths approaching 600 feet in the Gulf Stream zone.

One migratory group of king mackerel resides in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast during the summer and extends to the middle-eastern coastline of Florida from November through March. The Gulf Coast variety typically spawns in the summer in the northern Gulf Coast.

The Atlantic King Mackerel is prolific off North Carolina during the spring and fall. They migrate southeast to Florida and spawn from May to August, and then begin to return to North Carolina for winter. They are never found off the coast of Florida in the winter, according to tagging research.

Feeding Habits
King mackerel are opportunistic, aggressive feeders. Their prey items depend upon their size, season and location, but they primarily have favorites, like sardine-type fishes, striped anchovies, shrimp, squid, herring, jacks and ribbonfish. They may also resort to weakfish, cutlassfish, threadfin, cigar minnows and northern mackerel.

Catching the Kingfish
Offshore fishing in the Bahamas presents the most thrilling and accessible means to catch and land the king mackerel. Once hooked, they make spectacular runs and lofty leaps out of the water. Their speed matches that of the wahoo and their fight may last for hours if the fish is very large and healthy. They can be taken with live or dead bait on line gear and hook while trolling, from a boat at anchor or drifting, or from a pier or shoreline.

Trolling for king mackerel is the preferred method, using swimming bait, although they have been caught successfully with jigs, spoons, plugs and other artificial lures. Two hooks are often used; one hook (single or treble) is hooked through the bait’s mouth while a second treble hook is attached through the back. The double hook arrangement insures that the fish will hook up when it bites from the tail section, which it often does. Suggested tackle requires a heavy-duty open sport fishing reel or spinning reel with no less than 20-pound line, preferably 30-pound and up for the largest fishes. A mono leader with heavy wire insures that the fish will not bite through the line and be lost. Proven baits include thread herring, pogies, ballyhoo, Spanish sardine and mullet.