King mackerel Regulations in Louisiana (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

24 inches fork length (minimum) — 1.The minimum legal size for possession of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) shall be 12 inches fork length and king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) shall be 24 inches fork length whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana. No person shall possess, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange Spanish mackerel or king mackerel less than the minimum size requirements.

Bag limit

The holder of such valid commercial licenses or federal permits (if applicable) shall not take, possess, land, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to take, sell, barter, trade or exchange king mackerel, whole or eviscerated, in excess of 3,000 pounds at any time.

Possession

The holder of such valid commercial licenses or federal permits (if applicable) shall not take, possess, land, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to take, sell, barter, trade or exchange king mackerel, whole or eviscerated, in excess of 3,000 pounds at any time.

Season

5.The season for the commercial harvest of king mackerel shall open on July 1 of each year and remain open until the allotted portion of the commercial king mackerel quota for the western Gulf of America has been harvested or is projected to be harvested. | Season begins July 1, closes when quota is reached

• 1.No person shall take, harvest, land, or possess aboard a harvesting vessel king mackerel in excess of a recreational bag limit unless that person is in possession and has in his immediate possession a valid commercial fishing license, commercial gear licenses (if applicable) and a valid commercial vessel license. Persons taking, harvesting, landing, possessing or selling or attempting to sell king mackerel taken in or from the EEZ shall be in possession of a valid federal permit for gulf king mackerel issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
• 2.No person aboard any vessel shall transfer or cause the transfer of king mackerel between vessels on state or federal waters.
• 3.Persons possessing king mackerel for commercial purposes shall not possess a recreational bag limit in addition to the 3,000 pound limitations as required herein.
• 4.No person shall sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange king mackerel, whole or eviscerated, in excess of 3,000 pounds. Except that such limitation shall not apply to the resale of king mackerel by a validly licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer who purchased such king mackerel in compliance with the regulations and requirements of this Section and in compliance with other requirements of law.
• LDWF Commercial Saltwater Finfish Seasons (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/commercial-saltwater-finfish-seasons): King mackerel — Season begins July 1, closes when quota is reached

Official source