King Mackerel - 2012

Stock Status – Concern – Based on the 2008 South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC) stock assessment, the South Atlantic king mackerel stock is not overfished. It is uncertain whether overfishing is occurring; however, if it is, it is occurring at a low level. The 2011 recreational and commercial landings were the lowest in the last ten years. A new assessment is scheduled for 2013 (SEDAR 39).

Average Commercial Landings and Value 2002– 2011 – 853,959 lbs./$1,494,042

2011 Commercial Landings and Value – 407,351 lbs./$1,059,958 (quota managed)

Average Recreational Landings 2002– 2011 – 956,484 lbs., 2011 – 172,434 lbs.

Average Number of Award Citations (30 lbs. or 45– inches) 2002– 2011 – 216, 2011 – 70

Status of Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) – In North Carolina, king mackerel are currently included in the Interjurisdictional FMP, which defers to the SAFMC compliance requirements and is currently managed under Amendment 18 (2011) to the SAFMC Coastal Pelagic FMP. The amendment established annual catch limits, annual catch targets and accountability measures for South Atlantic king mackerel. Management measures include commercial and recreational quotas, minimum size limits, commercial trip limits (3,500 lbs./trip), recreational bag limits, gear restrictions and commercial permit moratorium. Charterboat/headboat operators must possess a charter/headboat vessel permit for coastal migratory pelagics and must comply with recreational bag limits.

Research and Data Needs – Bycatch mortality estimates in the directed shrimp fishery. Fishery independent methods of monitoring stock size. Estimates of Atlantic and Gulf stock mixing rates in south Florida.

Current Regulations – 24 inches fork length (FL), 3 fish/day for recreational anglers

Harvest Season – Open year round, based on a fishing year spanning April 1 to March 31 – Commercial and recreational fisheries can close when the total allowable catch is reached.

Size and Age at Maturity – 28 inches FL, 2– 3 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age – 26 years/23 years

Juvenile Abundance Index – Not available

Habits and Habitats – King mackerel are considered coastal pelagic, meaning they live in the open waters near the coast. They make inshore and offshore migrations triggered by water temperature and prey availability. In the winter and early spring, king mackerel congregate just inside the Gulf Stream along the edge of the Continental Shelf. During the summer and fall, they move inshore along the beaches and near the mouths of inlets and coastal rivers. They prefer water temperatures between 68º and 78º F.

^Citation release length requirement reduced from 50 inches to 45 inches in 2008

For more information, email Randy Gregory at Randy.Gregory@ncdenr.gov or call 800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021.