Best Times & Seasons to Catch King Mackerel in Florida

King mackerel is one of the most popular fish species that anglers can catch in the waters of Florida. Knowing the best times to target king mackerel in Florida helps anglers get the best possible results during their fishing trips. 

The best times of the year to catch king mackerel in Florida waters are from January to February and November to December. King mackerel are more active during the colder months. 

Anglers catch king mackerel in shallow, nearshore, and deep waters. There is no shortage of king mackerel fishing spots in Florida. Fishermen have easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico waters. When fishing in Florida, anglers should aim to target king mackerel in inlets, from piers, near reefs, rock ledges, wrecks, and oil rigs. 

King Mackerel Fishing in Florida (Best Times)

King mackerel fishing in Florida waters is possible year-round. King mackerel bites well during the coldest time of the year. King mackerel fishing in the local waters is good from January to April and from September and December. 

The best months to catch king mackerel in Florida waters are January – February and November – December. The worst months to catch king mackerel in the local waters are May–August. 

King mackerel bites well either at dusk or at dawn. So, it would be better to go fishing for king mackerel either in the morning or in the evening.

A high tide is the best tide for king mackerel fishing in Florida. King mackerel fishing is the most productive during high tides in the spring. 

It’s possible to catch king mackerel in waters of 68 – 73 °F. The best water temperature for king mackerel fishing is 70 °F.       

Best Seasons for Florida King Mackerel (by Region)

Florida Gulf Coast

Anglers often need to go 9 miles off the Florida Gulf coast to catch king mackerel during their fishing trips. Trolling is a fishing technique that works well for king mackerel. 

It’s worth noting that king mackerel are migratory fish. King mackerel migrate to different places on the Gulf coast of Florida throughout the year. Therefore, fishermen need to follow king mackerel migrations. When deciding where to go fishing for king mackerel in Florida, anglers should take into account the time of the year.  

It makes sense to target king mackerel in the waters near South Florida during the winter months. King mackerel can be found in the waters near Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle during the spring months.

The best time of the year to catch king mackerel in the Pensacola area is April – May. It’s possible to target king mackerel in the waters near Pensacola during the summer months. King mackerel fishing in the Panhandle area is good until the late fall. 

In summer, king mackerel fishing is best in the northern part of the Gulf. Pensacola Bay is the best place to fish for king mackerel during the fall months. The large schools of bait fish attract king mackerel to the bay in the fall.           

Florida Atlantic Coast

Summer is the best time of the year to catch king mackerel on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Fishing for king mackerel in the middle-east part of the Florida Atlantic coast is the most productive in January – March and in November – December. The best time of the year to catch king mackerel in the southeast part of the Atlantic coast in Florida is May – August.  

King mackerel can be caught in the nearshore and offshore waters. It makes a lot of sense to target king mackerel near the offshore reefs. Oftentimes, anglers successfully fish for king mackerel from piers on the Atlantic coast of Florida.  

Florida Keys

King mackerel fishing is good in the waters near the Florida Keys during colder months. King mackerel get more active in the local waters in the spring and in the fall. King mackerel fishing is best in the region from January to March and in December.      

Recommended Inshore Fishing Charters in Florida

These Florida-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Florida Professional Charters	Tampa, FL
Wet Lines Fishing	Clearwater, FL
Coastal Bound Charters	Palmetto, FL
Full Throttle Fishing Charters	Clearwater, FL
Always Somethin’ Charters	Daytona Beach, FL
Rebel Coast Charters	Clearwater, FL
Old Town Charters	Panama City Beach, FL
A-lure Fishing Charters	Crystal River, FL
Pharmasea Outfitters	Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Tide Flies Fishing Charters	Clearwater, FL
Infinite Fishing Charters	Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Island Excursions Fishing Charters	Marco Island, FL
Beaver’s Guide Service	Santa Rosa Beach, FL

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Is King Mackerel Fishing Good in Winter?

Fishing for king mackerel is good in Florida waters during the spring and fall months. The best season to catch king mackerel in Florida begins in the late fall and lasts until the early spring. King mackerel is active in Florida waters during the winter months as well. 

Finding king mackerel is key to the success of a Florida fishing trip during the winter months. It’s important to know that king mackerel migrate to South Florida in winter. 

The southern area of the Gulf is the right place to target king mackerel in Florida during the winter months. 

It also makes a lot of sense to target king mackerel in the waters near the Florida Keys in winter. King mackerel are abundant in the waters near Key West in the wintertime as well. It’s necessary to go 5-20 miles offshore to target king mackerel in the Key West area successfully.  

Night Fishing King Mackerel in Florida

King mackerel fishing can be very productive in Florida both during the daytime and at night. King mackerel feed actively at dawn, at dusk, and during night hours. Clear and calm nights create the ideal conditions for king mackerel fishing in Florida. 

Anglers have a good chance to catch king mackerel during night hours. Oftentimes, king mackerel bite well between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. King mackerel feed near the surface at night time. 

The success of king mackerel fishing depends on the moon phase. The moon affects the bite times of king mackerel. If you are interested in night fishing for king mackerel in Florida, then it would be great to go fishing on full-moon days. King mackerel fishing in Florida is the most productive during the night when the moon is full.  

It would be better to go fishing for king mackerel in Florida waters during the night time from March and April and from September and October. It’s not hot to fish at night during these months. But most importantly, night fishing for king mackerel in Florida is very productive at these times of the year. So, anglers get good results.   

For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch sheepshead in Florida, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch snapper in Florida, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch Spanish mackerel in Florida, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch cobia in Florida, check out this guide.