King Mackerel (also known as Kingfish, King) in Florida. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the FWC guide, 2026.
In Florida, the minimum legal size for King Mackerel is 24 in and the daily bag limit is 3 per person/day in Gulf and Monroe County waters; 2 per person/day in Atlantic waters. A slot limit applies: none — minimum 24" fork length, no maximum. There is no closed season in FL.
none — minimum 24" fork length, no maximum.
No closed season
Atlantic-vs-Gulf difference is the bag limit: Gulf/Monroe = 3/day, Atlantic = 2/day. Minimum 24" FL is identical. State-water values; king mackerel is jointly/federally managed and federal-water limits/seasons can differ — confirm federal offshore rules separately.
These limits are pulled from the FWC recreational saltwater size and bag limits. Last verified June 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
Florida requires a recreational saltwater fishing licence to take saltwater species (residents can get a no-cost Resident Saltwater Shoreline licence for shore fishing). A snook or tarpon permit is needed for those species. Florida saltwater licences.
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