Gulf KingfishorSouthern Kingfish
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Gulf Kingfish
The palest kingfish — plain silver with a dusky tail tip and chin barbel; lives in the wash.
Southern Kingfish
Chin barbel, no air bladder croaks here — the surf 'sea mullet'.
Southern kingfish, next to Gulf kingfish: gray-barred, not plain silver.
Side by side
| Gulf Kingfish | Southern Kingfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Menticirrhus littoralis | Menticirrhus americanus |
| Also called | Whiting, Gulf whiting | — |
| Waters | Inshore | Inshore |
| Heaviest state record | 4 lb · Delaware (1973) | 4 lb · Delaware (1973) |
| On the table | Very good — classic surf panfish. | Very good surf panfish. |
| Rules of its own in | 3 states | 2 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 1 of 3 states with a rule for either. In North Carolina, Gulf kingfish is No size limit, No bag limit while southern kingfish has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Gulf Kingfish: size · bag · season | Southern Kingfish: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked | No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · checked | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. |
| South Carolina | No size limit50/day aggregateOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked | No size limit50/day aggregateOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, Gulf kingfish or southern kingfish, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell Gulf kingfish from southern kingfish?
Gulf Kingfish: The palest kingfish — plain silver with a dusky tail tip and chin barbel; lives in the wash. Southern Kingfish: Chin barbel, no air bladder croaks here — the surf 'sea mullet'. Southern kingfish, next to Gulf kingfish: gray-barred, not plain silver.
Which gets bigger, Gulf kingfish or southern kingfish?
Gulf Kingfish. The heaviest state record we hold is 4 lb in Delaware; the heaviest southern kingfish record is 4 lb in Delaware.
Which is better to eat, Gulf kingfish or southern kingfish?
Gulf Kingfish: Very good — classic surf panfish. Southern Kingfish: Very good surf panfish.
Do Gulf kingfish and southern kingfish have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 1 state rulebooks. North Carolina: Gulf kingfish No size limit, No bag limit, southern kingfish no rule of its own.