FishAnywhere.com is part of Anywhere Brands, LLC - the world's largest provider of outdoor adventure services. Kingfish, more commonly known as king mackerel, is an excellent source of protein, omega-3s, B vitamins and selenium, but it's also very high in mercury. King Mackerel vs. Spanish Mackerel. King mackerel is a large fish even bigger than jack mackerel. It could be a costly mistake if you’re unable to distinguish the two mackerels. Most of the time we slow troll or drift live bait for Kingfish. There are certain characteristics of the mackerel species that make it difficult to tell the difference between the Spanish mackerel and juvenile kings. The lateral linestarts high on the shoulder, dips abruptly at mid-body and then continues as a wavy horizontal line to the tail. Nonetheless, a preference for water temperatures in the range of 20 to 29 °C (68 to 84 °F) may limit distribution. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, king mackerel is one of four fishes, along with swordfish, shark, and tilefish, that children and pregnant women should avoid due to high levels of methylmercury found in these fish and the consequent risk of mercury poisoning.[3]. The entire body is covered with very small, hardly visible, loosely attached scales. The “kings” and “princes” weigh in at an average of 10 and three pounds respectively making them a great target for family fishing trips. As nouns the difference between yellowtail and kingfish is that yellowtail is yellowtail amberjack, (taxlink) while kingfish is any of several food fishes of the genus (taxlink) from the atlantic; kingcroaker. They are best prepared by grilling, frying, baking or, especially for large "smoker" king, by smoking. Slow troll and chum over structure, use the lightest leader possible, and make sure to match the hatch when using live bait or artificials. These events are covered in several outdoors publications, both in print and online. Juvenile and larger pelagic fish feed on smaller king mackerel. However, it’s this difference that is … King Mackerel are typically identified by the pronounced lateral line that dips about midsection on the body. The first (spiny) dorsal fin is entirely colorless and is normally folded back into a body groove, as are the pelvic fins. Eggs and sperm are shed into the sea and their union is by chance. So while king mackerel never will compare to broiled pompano, baked flounder, pan-fried crappies and catfish, or sautéed sheepshead, kingfish are plenty good if prepared correctly. Unlike the Spanish Mackerel, they do not have a black area (sometimes called a flag) on the first dorsal fin. The Spanish Mackerel also has a black spot on the front part of the dorsal fin, while King Mackerel do not have any such spot. While the adult species of each mackerel are somewhat easy to identify, it’s when you find a juvenile King Mackerel that things start to become confusing. The king mackerel has a streamlined body, with a tapered head and very small scales that … As nouns the difference between tuna and kingfish is that tuna is any of several species of fish of the genus thunnus in the family scombridae or tuna can be the prickly pear, a type of cactus native to mexico in the genus opuntia while kingfish is any of several food fishes of … (2018). At age seven, females average 10 kg (22 lb), males 5 kg (11 lb). This must be done because king mackerel commonly bite the tail section of a bait fish. The speed of the boat is important; too slow and the fish won’t be interested, too fast and they may miss the bait. At least two migratory groups of king mackerel have been found to exist off the American coast. The king mackerel is a medium-sized fish, typically encountered from 5 to 14 kg (30 lb), but is known to exceed 40 kg (90 lb). King … Both also are migratory species, moving throughout the Gulf from Mexico to Florida, as well as the Atlantic Coast from South Florida to Massachusetts. King Mackerel, also known as kingfish, are found throughout the subtropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They are most commonly found in waters 30 to 150 feet deep, and typically grow to 30+ inches long, weighing 10-20 pounds. This group migrates to southeast Florida, where it spawns from May through August, and slowly returns through summer. Commercial gear consists of run-around gill nets. King mackerel may attain 40 kg (88 lb), but any over 7 kg (15 lb) is almost certainly a female. (2005). For anglers without access to a boat, fishing for Spanish Mackerel from local piers or jetties is a great option. Coloration is olive on the back, fading to silver with a rosy iridescence on the sides, fading to white on the belly. Van Hubbard. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, American blues musician. A lot of people get the king, cero and spanish mackerel confused. Depending on size, a female may shed from 50,000 to several million eggs over the spawning season. In summation, when you are trying to ID your mackerel catch look for these 3 features. They may be distinguished as follows: The lateral line on Atlantic Spanish mackerel and cero slopes gradually from the top edge of the gill to the tail. They are also taken commercially by trolling with large planers, heavy tackle and lures similar to those used by sport fishers. But the Spanish mackerel features a black spot on the first dorsal fin that the king mackerel lacks. King mackerel can be found in sub-tropical or tropical waters including the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. 4. 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