King mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) is a saltwater species recorded in the United States. It is found at depths of 5–140 m.
Scientific name: Scomberomorus cavalla · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 184 cm
The king mackerel is a pelagic neritic scombrid often found in outer reef areas, recorded from 5 to 140 m. It feeds primarily on fishes with smaller quantities of penaeid shrimps and squids, and its larvae are encountered in surface waters of 26.3 to 31 degrees Celsius and salinities of 26.9 to 35 parts per thousand. Large schools migrate over considerable distances along the Atlantic coast of the United States where water temperature permits. Its range is the western Atlantic, from Canada and Massachusetts south to Sao Paulo in Brazil, with a further record from St. Paul's Rocks in the eastern central Atlantic. Maximum length is about 184 cm total length, commonly about 70 cm fork length, and it can live 26 years, maturing at about 64.8 cm. It is an important species for recreational, commercial and artisanal fisheries throughout its range and is a gamefish, most of the catch being processed into steaks or sold fresh, and sometimes canned, salted, smoked or frozen. Fishing vulnerability is moderate to high at 48 of 100 and resilience medium, and climate vulnerability is moderate to high at 55 of 100. IUCN lists it as least concern.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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