King Mackerel (kings, kingfish) - Species Report

King mackerel support major commercial and recreational fisheries in North Carolina, where from 1991 to 1995 total combined landings averaged 2.25 million pounds per year. The king mackerel are the largest mackerel in the western Atlantic. Their large size led to the specific name cavalla, derived from the Spanish word for horse. While king mackerel is the accepted common name, they are also known as kings or kingfish. Recreational fishermen consider king mackerel to be a prized catch because of their blistering long runs and tenacious fights.

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