Southern Kingfish
Menticirrhus americanus
How to tell it
Chin barbel, no air bladder croaks here — the surf 'sea mullet'.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMS DMR 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, North Carolina, 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 | 1.34 lb | 2014 · China Pass | 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 0.84 oz | 2017 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 3 lb 8 oz | 1971 · Bogue Banks Pier | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · NC 'Sea Mullet' record; state keeps one whiting (sea mullet) record covering all kingfish species — shown on each per Patrick's 8/23 ruling |
| 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 | 3.62 lb | 1992 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Very good surf panfish.
In the app
Point the camera at a southern 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 southern kingfish
How many southern kingfish can you keep?
South Carolina: 50/day aggregate.
What is the record southern kingfish?
4 lb in Delaware (1973). Other states’ records are in the table.