Gulf Kingfish
Menticirrhus littoralis
Also called Whiting, Gulf whiting.
How to tell it
The palest kingfish — plain silver with a dusky tail tip and chin barbel; lives in the wash.
- Not a southern kingfish? That one gray-barred, not plain silver. (Southern Kingfish)
- Not a northern kingfish? That one bold bars and a shoulder V. (Northern Kingfish)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 50/day aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 lb | 2001 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · AL keeps one record covering gulf and southern kingfish — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling |
| Delaware | 4 lb | 1973 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 · state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling |
| Florida | 2.8 lb | 2021 · Santa Rosa Beach | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 · state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling |
| Georgia | 2 lb 4 oz | 1975 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling; GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 2.18 lb | 2021 · Grand Isle Surf | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 2.5 lb | 1975 · Assateague Island | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling; MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 2 lb | 2014 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 3 lb 13 oz | 2020 · Kure Beach | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 2 lb 12 oz | 1976 · Georgetown | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 · state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling |
| Texas | 2.38 lb | 1995 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Very good — classic surf panfish.
In the app
Point the camera at a gulf kingfish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about gulf kingfish
How many gulf kingfish can you keep?
South Carolina: 50/day aggregate.
How do you tell gulf kingfish from southern kingfish?
Gulf Kingfish has this: The palest kingfish — plain silver with a dusky tail tip and chin barbel; lives in the wash.. Southern Kingfish gray-barred, not plain silver.
What is the record gulf kingfish?
4 lb in Delaware (1973). Other states’ records are in the table.