Sea surface temperature guide
King Mackerel sea surface temperature guide.
- Scomberomorus cavalla
- Pelagic
- Agency-reported threshold data
King mackerel migrate twice yearly along both US coasts — spring run north and fall run south, both tightly tied to the 68–72°F SST line. Watch the temperature push and you'll find the kings.
SST threshold gauge
The temperature ranges that matter.
The water temperature ranges that determine where king mackerel hold and feed. Hard thresholds (dashed lines) are values outside which fish actively depart or become inactive.
Depth profile & SST reliability
Typical depth
0–200 feet
SST as locator
High — SST is a strong locator
King mackerel feed throughout the upper water column and are well-predicted by surface SST. Migrations are strongly temperature-driven.
Current systems & structure
Spring and fall migrations along both coasts follow the 68–72°F leading edge. Summer fish hold over nearshore structure where SST stays in the 76–82°F band.
Best zones now
Where king mackerel are in range — August.
Zones where typical August SST falls in king mackerel's preferred range.
Zone-by-zone calendar
Overlap charts by zone.
For each zone where king mackerel are present, the chart overlays the zone's typical monthly SST range with the species' preferred and optimal ranges. Months where the bands overlap are when fish are in range.
Mid-Atlantic
Best months
May, June, July, August, September, October
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Feb | 56–64°F | Outside |
| Mar | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Apr | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| May | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Jun | 74–82°F | Peak |
| Jul | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Augnow | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Sep | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Oct | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Dec | 60–68°F | Outside |
South Atlantic
Best months
April, May, June, July, August, September, October
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Feb | 56–64°F | Outside |
| Mar | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Apr | 66–74°F | Peak |
| May | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Jun | 74–82°F | Peak |
| Jul | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Augnow | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Sep | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Oct | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Dec | 60–68°F | Outside |
Best months
April, May, June, September, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Feb | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 68–76°F | Peak |
| May | 72–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 76–84°F | Peak |
| Jul | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Oct | 72–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
April, May, June, September, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Mar | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Jul | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 78–84°F | Peak |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 64–72°F | Fishable |
Best months
March, April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 64–70°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Apr | 72–78°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Nov | 70–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 66–72°F | Fishable |
Best months
January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72–78°F | Peak |
| Feb | 72–76°F | Peak |
| Mar | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Apr | 76–80°F | Peak |
| May | 78–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 78–82°F | Peak |
| Nov | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Dec | 72–78°F | Peak |
Gulf of Mexico
Best months
April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Outside |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 64–72°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 70–78°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 72–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 62–68°F | Outside |
| Mar | 66–72°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 72–80°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 64–72°F | Fishable |
Conservation & regulations
GMFMC / SAFMC / NOAA
Stable. Federally managed with state-level rules in state waters. Bag limit typically 2–3 per angler with minimum size requirements. Verify current rule.
Stock assessment source →Live bait — blue runners, ribbonfish, hardtails — slow-trolled on the leading edge of the temperature push. Spring migration north and fall migration south are the highest-density windows.
Sources
SST threshold data is summarized from agency and research sources. Year-to-year ocean conditions vary; verify current SST imagery before each trip.
See live SST for your offshore zone.
Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery on your chartplotter view, highlights the temperature breaks that match king mackerel thresholds, and alerts you when your home zone hits the 72–80°F window.
Start free trial →