King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel are two of the most popular game fish in the country. These silvery, long, and slender fish are equally abundant along the Atlantic coast, as well as in the Gulf. Seeing as they’re so similar, you could easily catch both and not realize that you’ve got two different fish on board.
But you should. Fishing regulations for Kings and Spaniards are completely different, so if you want to avoid a hefty fine for missing your size and bag limits, you better know how to tell them apart. With that in mind, we’ve made this quick guide to recognizing King Mackerel vs. Spanish Mackerel.
Why You Should Care
As we mentioned, the regulations are different. The minimum size requirement for Spanish Mackerel is only 12 inches. For Kings, it’s 24 and above (in Texas, it’s 27). Bag limits vary by state, but in most cases you can expect it to be around 15 Spanish Mackerel, and between one and three King Mackerel.
Let’s say you get away without a fine. You come home after your outing, and you can’t wait to show everyone what a good time you had. You go on social media and post a picture of yourself holding a keeper Spanish Mackerel. Thing is, everybody can see that you’re not actually holding a keeper Spanish Mackerel, but a very small Kingfish.
Which brings us to our next point.
The Tricky Similarities
Before we highlight the differences between King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel, let’s cover a few similarities. These could potentially lead you to believe that you’ve got a Spaniard instead of a King, so pay attention.
As you probably know by now, King Mackerel grow a lot bigger than their Spanish relatives. However, before they mature, juvenile Kingfish are often very similar in size to grown Spanish Mackerel.
Also, Spanish Mackerel have three rows of elliptical yellow spots dotting the sides of their bodies. King Mackerel don’t, at least when they’re fully grown. Juvenile Kings, however, boast these very same yellow spots. When they mature, the spots on King Mackerel either lose their color or fade into a leopard-like pattern.
The Differences
For all their similarities, there are a couple of key features that differentiate King Mackerel vs. Spanish Mackerel. These are:
- The lateral line on a King Mackerel drops sharply near the first dorsal fin. On a Spanish Mackerel, this line slopes down much more evenly.
- The first dorsal fin on a King Mackerel is lightly-colored across its length. On a Spanish Mackerel, the front end of the first dorsal is distinctively black.
Now that you know how to tell King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel apart, you’re all set to catch your next keeper! And if you can’t get enough Mackerel, be sure to check out our guide to the various types of Mackerel in North America.
And now, we turn it over to you. What was the biggest Mackerel you ever caught? Did you ever have trouble telling which Mackerel it was? Let us know in the comments below.
