Species guide · Virginia
King mackerel fishing in Virginia
Scomberomorus cavalla, a pelagic species also called kingfish, king and smoker kingfish. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Chincoteague to Parramore Island VA out 20 NM at 54, one of 10 Virginia 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.
Mid-Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Not present
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Aug to Sep.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
Northern edge of the summer range. Mostly southern Virginia offshore of Virginia Beach in warm years; lower confidence than regions to the south.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 10
Virginia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's king mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 5-9 PM (67) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (67) · 89 named spots
Best window today 3-6 PM (62) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 5 PM (63) · 99 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (65) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (65) · 135 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (57) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 5 PM (63) · 25 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (61) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (61) · 24 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (63) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (63) · 33 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (65) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (65) · 45 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (64) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (64) · 4 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (67) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (67) · 32 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
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed king mackerel rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.