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King Mackerel regulations in Florida

· Saltwater · 2026 season

King Mackerel
Is it a keeper? A king mackerel is a keeper today if it measures at least 24 inches, with a daily limit of 2.

King Mackerel size limit, season and daily limit

WhereSeasonSize limitDaily limit
Atlantic state watersOpen year-round24 inch minimum2 per person per day
Gulf state watersOpen year-round24 inch minimum3 per person per day

Exact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wording

Season
Open year-round
Size
24" fork length
Limit
3 per harvester
Gulf — as printed
“Gulf State Waters and Monroe County: Minimum Size Limit: 24" fork length; Daily Bag Limit: 3 per harvester; Season: Open year-round”
Atlantic — as printed
“Atlantic State Waters (excludes Monroe County): Minimum Size Limit: 24" fork length; Daily Bag Limit: 2 per harvester”

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).

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About the king mackerel

King mackerel

Species of fish

The king mackerel, kingfish or carite lucio is a migratory species of mackerel of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. It is an important species to both the commercial and recreational fishing industries.

Read more about King mackerel on Wikipedia →

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, not Wikipedia.

All 52 Florida species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for King Mackerel in Florida?

24 inch minimum in Florida state waters.

How many King Mackerel can you keep per day in Florida?

2 per person per day.

When is King Mackerel season in Florida?

Open year-round.

Is my King Mackerel a keeper today?

A king mackerel is a keeper today if it measures at least 24 inches, with a daily limit of 2.