Waterlands

Species guide · South Carolina

King mackerel fishing in South Carolina

Scomberomorus cavalla, a pelagic species also called kingfish, king and smoker kingfish. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Peak season, about 6 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 NM at 68, one of 4 South Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Peak season
Where it's scoring nowAll South Carolina waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

South Atlantic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Off season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Shoulder season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Peak season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. 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 · 4

South Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's king mackerel score this hour.

1
68Great
Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 NM

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (78) · 28 named spots

2
67Great
Charleston Harbor

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (77) · 37 named spots

3
64Good
Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 NM

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (68) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 5 PM (77) · 6 named spots

4
62Good
Coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out 20 NM

Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (62) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 9 AM (73) · 1 named spot

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

SCDNR saltwater regulations Buy a South Carolina fishing license License types

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Synced with SCDNR Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed king mackerel rule for South Carolina is on file yet. Check with SCDNR before you keep one.

Other South Carolina species