UTERKing mackerel fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, king mackerel peak June and October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Live-bait drifts over the reefs.
Fall kings on the nearshore live bottom.
King mackerel in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingKings move onto the nearshore reefs and the shrimp grounds.
- JunePeakLive-bait drifts over the reefs.
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArriving
- OctoberPeakFall kings on the nearshore live bottom.
- NovemberLeavingThe last fish before they head south.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish king mackerel near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 338 artificial reef, 169 wreck, 11 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Golden Isles map area — the kinds king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is June and October. King mackerel are in Georgia Coast April–November. June: Live-bait drifts over the reefs.
Where do king mackerel hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king mackerel in Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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