King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
Also known as Cavalla, Sierra
Culinary Profile
King mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting meat along the midline.
Flaky and moist.
King mackerel is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, low in fat, and a very good source of protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, and selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
King mackerel are iron-gray on the back and silvery on their sides and belly. They have pale to dusky fins. Small king mackerel sometimes have spots like Spanish mackerel, but king mackerel can be distinguished by their sharply dipping lateral line and gray anterior (near the front) dorsal (the upper side) fin.
Biology
King mackerel grow fast, up to 5.5 feet and 100 pounds. They can live more than 20 years. They are able to reproduce when they reach 2 years of age. There are two distinct populations, one in the Gulf of America and one in the Atlantic. They spawn on the outer continental shelf from May through October. Females release eggs in the open water, where they are fertilized.
Where They Live
Range King mackerel are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Caribbean and Gulf of America. Habitat King mackerel are a coastal pelagic species, meaning they live in the open waters near the coast. They live in water 115 to almost 600 feet deep. They prefer warm waters and seldom enter waters below 68° F.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from New York to Texas. The majority of commercial catch is from the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of king mackerel totaled approximately 4 million pounds and were valued at more than $12 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . A large fraction of the commercial catch is harvested from the “winter mixing zone” in South Florida, which includes Gulf of America and South Atlantic waters. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Most commercial fishermen use hook-and-line gear such as handlines, rod-and-reel, and troll gear. Gillnets are also allowed in limited areas. Hook-and-line and gillnet gear have minimal impact on habitat because they do not contact the ocean floor. Fishing gear used to harvest king mackerel is very selective, so the fishery has little bycatch.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where King Mackerel ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | 15.6 µg | 3 / 106 | 97% |
| Iron | 1.78 mg | 7 / 111 | 94% |
| Phosphorus | 248 mg | 24 / 111 | 78% |
| Protein | 20.28 g | 27 / 111 | 76% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Zinc | 0.56 mg | 40 / 111 | 64% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 136 mg | 55 / 104 | 47% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 177 mg | 59 / 104 | 43% |
Other Southeast Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as King Mackerel.
Blacknose Shark
Carcharhinus acronotus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
Mild and sweet.
Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
Mild but distinct flavor, somewhere between bass and halibut.
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
The meat of gray triggerfish is uniquely sweet. It tastes more like crab than fish.
Queen Conch
Aliger gigas
Conch has a sweet, slightly smoky flavor, similar to abalone or clam. Fresh, farmed conch is sweeter and more tender tha…
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Red snapper has a sweetly mild but distinctive flavor.
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Spanish mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting mea…
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of King Mackerel, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is King Mackerel a good source of iron?
Per 100 g raw, King Mackerel provides 1.78 mg of iron — the protein matrix in fish flesh makes this heme iron, which absorbs more efficiently than the non-heme iron in plant sources.
Who manages the King Mackerel fishery?
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the king mackerel fishery. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region : Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest king mackerel.
How much selenium does King Mackerel provide?
A 100 g raw serving of King Mackerel carries 36.5 µg of selenium, about 66% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How should King Mackerel be cooked?
King Mackerel has Flaky and moist. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
Where is King Mackerel found?
Range King mackerel are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Caribbean and Gulf of America. Habitat King mackerel are a coastal pelagic species, meaning they live in the open waters near the coast. They live in water 115 to almost 600 feet deep. They prefer warm waters and seldom enter waters below 68° F.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught king mackerel is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of king mackerel: a South Atlantic stock, a Gulf of Mexico stock and a stock contained in the Puerto Rico Mackerels Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The South Atlantic stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2020 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The South Atlantic and Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest king mackerel have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because hook-and-line and gillnet gear is selective.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the king mackerel fishery. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region : Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest king mackerel.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.