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King Mackerel - Scombridae
Family MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Description: Color of back iridescent bluish green, sides silvery; streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of the first dorsal fin; lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young fish often have yellowish spots like those of Spanish mackerel
Similar fish: Cero, S. regalis; Spanish mackerel, œ maculatus
Where found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE; occasionally taken from piers running into deep water
Size: Common to 20 pounds
Remarks: Schooling fish that migrates from south Florida waters in winter to more northerly waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be separate from Atlantic population, with considerable mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West; spawns in mid summer OFFSHORE; feeds on small fish and squid.
Florida record: 90 lbs
Regulations:
Size Limit: 24" Fork
Season:
Bag Limit: 2 per person per day.
Comments: Bag limit in Gulf/Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when Federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call DLE for details.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads and tails intact)
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