Species guide · Alabama
King mackerel fishing in Alabama
Scomberomorus cavalla, a pelagic species also called kingfish, king and smoker kingfish. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in North Mobile Bay at 53, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Eastern Gulf
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May, Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Nov.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
Spring run passes Tampa Bay and the Big Bend in April-May on the way to the Panhandle; the fall run comes back south in October-November. Winter fish are mostly south of Naples.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's king mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 5-9 PM (54) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 7 AM (62) · 33 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (58) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 5 PM (64) · 53 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (56) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (58) · 20 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (59) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 5 PM (64) · 21 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 68°F to 86°F, best between 70°F and 81°F.
- Water depth
- 15 to 250 ft of water.
- Structure
- Reef, wreck, ledge, pier, inlet, open water and bank, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and moving water, with moderate current.Near the beach and at pier ends, kings bite best when moving water pushes clean green water and bait along the shoreline and inlet mouths. Offshore, bait and current edges matter more than tide stage.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Kings roam from beaches and pier ends out to reefs, wrecks and ledges in 40 to 200 feet, usually feeding in the upper half of the water column. Slow-troll live menhaden, blue runners or cigar minnows on a light wire stinger rig, or pull spoons and ribbonfish past bait schools. Look for clean green water above 68 F with bait and birds on it.
- Methods
- slow trolling, trolling, drifting live bait, pier fishing, casting
- Lures
- spoons, deep-diving plugs, skirted duster rigs with ribbonfish, jigs
- Bait
- live menhaden, blue runners, cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, ribbonfish, ballyhoo, threadfin herring
Regulations
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 17, 2026.
No reviewed king mackerel rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.