Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Also called Spanish.
How to tell it
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king.
- Not a king mackerel? That one lateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size. (King Mackerel)
- Not a false albacore? That one wavy worm-lines on the back, no spots. (False Albacore)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 15 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 14 in min | 15 per day | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 12 in fork length min | 15 per person | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 12 in fork length min | 15 per person | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 12 in fork length | 15 per person per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 12 in fork length | 15 per person | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 14 in min | 15 | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 12 in fork length minimum | 15 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 14 in min | 10 | Open year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 14" | 15 | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 12" FL min | 15 per person per day | Year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 12 in fork length | 15/day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 14 in total length | 15 | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 14 in min | 15 per person | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 lb 12 oz | 1993 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 6 lb 5 oz | 2003 · Branford Beacon | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested) |
| Delaware | 6 lb 4 oz | 2000 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 12 lb | 1984 · Ft. Pierce | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 8 lb 4 oz | 1991 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 10.56 lb | 1972 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 12.4 lb | 2007 · Middle Grounds | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Chesapeake division record |
| Massachusetts | 8 lb | 2011 · Vineyard Sound | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Mississippi | 8 lb | 1984 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 9 lb 12 oz | 1990 · Off Cape May | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 13 lb | 1987 · Ocracoke Inlet | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 11 lb | 1983 · Myrtle Beach | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 8.74 lb | 1976 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 10 lb 7 oz | 2022 · Off Smith Point | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Very good fresh or smoked; oily, doesn't keep long.
In the app
Point the camera at a spanish mackerel 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 spanish mackerel
What is the size limit for spanish mackerel?
It depends on the state. Delaware: 14 in min; Florida (Atlantic): 12 in fork length min; Florida (Gulf): 12 in fork length min; Georgia: 12 in fork length; Louisiana: 12 in fork length; Maryland: 14 in min; Mississippi: 12 in fork length minimum; New Jersey: 14 in min; and more in the table above.
How many spanish mackerel can you keep?
Alabama: 15 per person; Delaware: 15 per day; Florida (Atlantic): 15 per person; Florida (Gulf): 15 per person; Georgia: 15 per person per day; Louisiana: 15 per person; Maryland: 15; Mississippi: 15 per person per day; and more in the table above.
How do you tell spanish mackerel from king mackerel?
Spanish Mackerel has this: Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king.. King Mackerel lateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size.
What is the record spanish mackerel?
13 lb in North Carolina (1987), Ocracoke Inlet. Other states’ records are in the table.