King mackerel (kingfish) in Myrtle Beach

When they are here

King mackerel migrate along the Southeast coast with water temperature. On the Grand Strand, they move close to the beach in spring, as the water warms into the upper 60s and 70s, and again in fall, from late September into November, as bait schools pour down the coast. In summer, most kings are farther offshore on reefs and live bottom. Winter fish stay well offshore or move south.

Where to find them

• Pier ends, especially on the north end of the Grand Strand, in spring and fall.
• Nearshore reefs and live bottom within 3 to 20 miles, where bait schools hold.
• Tide lines and bait pods along the beaches in fall.
• Ledges and the shelf edge in summer.

How they are caught

The classic method is slow-trolling live bait: a menhaden (pogy), bluefish, or mullet on a wire leader with a "stinger" treble hook near the tail, pulled just fast enough to keep it swimming. Kings strike from below and often hit the tail, which is why the stinger hook matters. Boats also troll spoons and dead baits such as cigar minnows and ribbonfish.

Kings have sharp teeth; use wire leaders. They make one or two long, fast runs, so set the drag light and let them go.

On a trip

A nearshore charter or half-day trolling trip in October is the best visitor shot at a big king. Offshore trips catch kings while trolling for mahi and wahoo. See types of fishing trips and the directory.

Tournaments

King mackerel tournaments are a Grand Strand institution, with fall events such as Little River's Rumble in the Jungle. See tournaments and 2026 results.

Rules

King mackerel are managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in federal waters and SCDNR in state waters. They are measured by fork length (snout to the fork of the tail). Size and bag limits are set by regulation and can change; check the state and federal pages before you keep one.