How to Catch King Mackerel in the Southeast Atlantic
The short answer
King Mackerel in the Southeast Atlantic hold on nearshore reefs, piers and jetties. They peak May–Oct. Start with live menhaden: Slow-trolled (~2–3 kt) on a stinger rig — nose hook plus a trailing treble, because kings slash the middle of a bait. Best on moving water concentrates the bait pods kings hunt. Early morning — slow-troll live bait as the sun comes up.
When King Mackerel bite in the Southeast Atlantic
Apr–Nov, biggest 'smoker' kings in the fall
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
off | off | off | around | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | around | off |
What to throw for King Mackerel
Best first. The retrieve matters more than the lure, so each one says how to work it.
- Live menhaden — Slow-trolled (~2–3 kt) on a stinger rig — nose hook plus a trailing treble, because kings slash the middle of a bait.
- Drone spoon — Trolled behind a planer to get down to them when they won't come up.
- Cigar minnow — Dead bait on a stinger rig, trolled or drifted over a nearshore reef.
Where to find them
Look for nearshore reefs, piers and jetties.
Find the bait over a nearshore reef and the kings are under it. Slow-troll live baits on wire stingers and let a fish eat before you come tight. Piers get a king run too.
Tide and timing
Moving water concentrates the bait pods kings hunt
Early morning — slow-troll live bait as the sun comes up
Tackle
7' medium conventional or heavy spinning · 20–30 lb · light wire stinger rig (razor teeth)
Check the regulations
Size and bag limits change by state and by season, and they change more often than any article gets updated. Check your state agency before you keep anything.
Sounder links the right state agency for wherever you drop a pin, and flags a fish that’s out of slot as you log it.