Spanish MackerelorFalse Albacore

Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.

Studio photograph of a Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), side view, on a white background — **Spanish Mackerel***Scomberomorus maculatus*

Studio photograph of a False Albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus), side view, on a white background — **False Albacore***Euthynnus alletteratus*

Rules for both fish from 15 state rulebooks, checked Sep 18, 2026. Every rule names its source and the day it was last checked; the official rulebook is the final word.

How to tell them apart

Spanish Mackerel

Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king.

False Albacore

Wavy, worm-like markings above the lateral line only; spotless silver below; football body.

False albacore, next to Spanish mackerel: wavy worm-lines on the back, no spots.

Side by side

	Spanish Mackerel	False Albacore
Scientific name	Scomberomorus maculatus	Euthynnus alletteratus
Also called	Spanish	Albie, Little tunny, Fat Albert
Waters	Nearshore	Offshore
Heaviest state record	13 lb · North Carolina (1987)	32 lb · North Carolina (2015)
On the table	Very good fresh or smoked; oily, doesn't keep long.	Poor — dark, strong-flavored; almost always released.
Rules of its own in	14 states	1 states

Rules for

Every state, both fish

The two fish are regulated differently in 15 of 15 states with a rule for either. In Alabama, Spanish mackerel is No size limit, 15 per person while false albacore has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.

State	Spanish Mackerel: size · bag · season	False Albacore: size · bag · season
Alabama	No size limit15 per personOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Delaware	14 in min15 per dayOpen year-roundOpenDE DNREC 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Florida (Atlantic)	12 in fork length min15 per personOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Florida (Gulf)	12 in fork length min15 per personOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Georgia	12 in fork length15 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Louisiana	12 in fork length15 per personOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked 2026-09-07	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Maryland	14 in min15Open year-roundOpenMD DNR 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Massachusetts	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	16" min (curved fork length)5 fish combined with Atlantic bonitoOpen year-roundOpenMA DMF 2026 · checked 2026-09-07
Mississippi	12 in fork length minimum15 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
New Jersey	14 in min10Open year-roundOpenNJ DEP 2026 · checked 2026-09-07	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
New York	14"15Open year-roundOpenNY DEC 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
North Carolina	12" FL min15 per person per dayYear-roundOpenNC DMF 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
South Carolina	12 in fork length15/dayOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Texas	14 in total length15Open year-roundOpenTPWD 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.
Virginia	14 in min15 per personOpen year-roundOpenVMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-18	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.

Questions anglers ask

How do you tell Spanish mackerel from false albacore?

Spanish Mackerel: Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. False Albacore: Wavy, worm-like markings above the lateral line only; spotless silver below; football body. False albacore, next to Spanish mackerel: wavy worm-lines on the back, no spots.

Which gets bigger, Spanish mackerel or false albacore?

False Albacore. The heaviest state record we hold is 32 lb in North Carolina; the heaviest Spanish mackerel record is 13 lb in North Carolina.

Which is better to eat, Spanish mackerel or false albacore?

Spanish Mackerel: Very good fresh or smoked; oily, doesn't keep long. False Albacore: Poor — dark, strong-flavored; almost always released.

Do Spanish mackerel and false albacore have the same limits?

Not everywhere. They differ in 15 state rulebooks. Alabama: Spanish mackerel No size limit, 15 per person, false albacore no rule of its own; Delaware: Spanish mackerel 14 in min, 15 per day, false albacore no rule of its own; Florida (Atlantic): Spanish mackerel 12 in fork length min, 15 per person, false albacore no rule of its own; Florida (Gulf): Spanish mackerel 12 in fork length min, 15 per person, false albacore no rule of its own; Georgia: Spanish mackerel 12 in fork length, 15 per person per day, false albacore no rule of its own; and more in the table on this page.