Species guide · North Carolina
King mackerel fishing in North Carolina
Scomberomorus cavalla, a pelagic species also called kingfish, king and smoker kingfish. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM at 58, one of 9 North Carolina 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.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 4 more weeks- 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: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: May, Sep to Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Nov.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Spring fish reach Northeast Florida and Georgia in April-May; North Carolina beaches, piers and inlet mouths peak in late summer and fall. Winter fish hold near the shelf edge just inside the Gulf Stream (NCDMF).
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's king mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 3-7 PM (65) · Best day Fri, Nov 6 at 9 AM (74) · 7 named spots
Best window today 5-7 PM (64) · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (65) · 49 named spots
Best window today 2-6 PM (59) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 5 PM (59) · 75 named spots
Best window today 3-7 PM (62) · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (63) · 260 named spots
Best window today 3-7 PM (60) · Best day Sun, Nov 1 at 5 PM (60) · 134 named spots
Best window today 3-7 PM (59) · Best day Sat, Nov 7 at 4 PM (68) · 1 named spot
Best window today 10 AM-7 PM (56) · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (59) · 21 named spots
Best window today 3-7 PM (60) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 3 PM (64) · 331 named spots
Best window today 6-7 PM (56) · Best day Mon, Nov 2 at 6 AM (59) · 26 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
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Oct 31, 2026.
No reviewed king mackerel rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Black sea bass
- Bluefish
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Atlantic croaker
- Black drum
- Crevalle jack
- Greater amberjack
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic tarpon
- Cobia
- Gray snapper
- Gray triggerfish
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Spanish mackerel