The peak of the Kingfish fishing season is here in St. Pete Beach, FL! Many of our recent fishing charter guests have got their hands on these beautiful, fun and delicious King Mackerel.
That’s because water temperatures are rising, sending migrations to Tampa and the surrounding areas. We’re hyped to get our hands on some big catches this year.
How to Book a Kingfish Fishing Charter in St. Pete Beach
If you’re interested, we recommend advance booking as spaces are going fast. Families, friends, groups and individuals are all welcome to join us. Regardless of your age and experience, we’d love to help make your own private fishing charter dream come true. Whether you’re trying to get a personal-best sized Kingfish or want to experience your first Kingfish in the boat, we can help make it happen!
You can call us at (727) 433-4200 or simply fill out our online St. Pete Beach fishing charter booking form here.
We guarantee a catch! Let’s go!
Kingfish St. Pete Beach Fishing Charter Report
As spring arrives in St. Pete Beach, bigger species are making their arrival. We’ve seen Cobia, Tuna, Tarpon and now, Kingfish!
Tarpon bite is still hot and is one of our most popular requests. We’ve only got a few spaces left! As the water temperatures increase, the hungry Silver Kings will be providing plenty of hookups each day. They’re all about heart-pounding action, with dramatic leaps and jaw-dropping fights.
Inshore and nearshore fishing excursions are great fun in March, April and May. Not only will we most likely encounter King fish and Tarpon, but we’ll see more and more Redfish, Snook, Trout and Cobia. Further offshore will provide plenty of Grouper, Snapper, Mahi Mahi and maybe even Sailfish in the deeper waters!
But we’re all hyped for King Mackerel this month!
While the Kingfish fishing season in St. Pete Beach varies, there is no closed season – we find them from January to December. But, April to October is the high season! So if you’ve been waiting to land those blue beauties, then the time has come!
What Makes Kingfish So Great?
King Mackerel (A.K.A “Kingfish”) has a beautifully streamlined body with a tapered head. They have a distinct blueish, greenish, silvery shine that takes your breath away once they surface.
They also tend to have big, wide eyes and can weigh 50 pounds plus! On average, we’ll catch around 5-20 pounders. But we dare you to impress us with a bigger catch!
Kingfish usually require some patience before you get a bite, but they’re great fun once the fight is on! We guarantee you’ll come away smiling once you hook up to one of these legends of the Gulf.
What to Know Before You Go on a Kingfish Fishing Charter
Kingfish fishing charters can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day. This means you’ll be spending a lot of time on the water and will need to prepare in advance. You’ll need to have:
- Appropriate footwear (something that will keep you from slipping)
- Clothing for the hot weather but potentially cooler winds
- Shades
- A hat to shield you from the sun
- Sunscreen
- Some snacks and drinks (that can be stored in our onboard cooler).
Read our full ‘what to pack for a fishing charter’ guide here.
When Is The Best Time to Catch Kingfish in St. Pete Beach?
Spring and fall are considered the best times to go fishing for Kingfish in St. Pete Beach – with high season from April till June and Thanksgiving until around Christmas.
Where Is The Best Place to Catch Kingfish in St. Pete Beach?
The best way of knowing when and where to catch Kingfish is to track water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. Kingfish love waters that are around 68-72 degrees. Any high or lower Kingfish will migrate to other areas.
Your next criteria is to go wherever the most bait is. Usually, we’ll find a lot of bait near hard bottoms, passes or even near St. Pete Beach itself.
Here, Kingfish love to generally spend their time off the beaches, piers or chasing schools of baitfish in deeper waters.
You can also look out for birds diving into the Gulf to feed on baitfish. Birds like Pelicans are great indicators of where the surface bait is. Bait comes to the surface when there’s a predator below. And the predators in this instance are Kingfish!
Our Captains know exactly where the current Kingfish hotspots are and will take you to them on our private Kingfish fishing charters!
How Do Kingfish React When They Bite?
Kingfish are great fun. When they hit your line, you’ll feel it! They don’t take little nibbles. They’ll send your reel screaming! Patience is required here. We often let the rod do the work until the initial run slows down. If you react too quickly and aggressively, you might tear the hook out of the fish’s mouth and never see him surface.
What Gear Is Best for Catching Kingfish?
Kingfish are equipped with nasty, razor-sharp teeth. So we always use gear that can withstand their aggressive bites. Lots of spool capacity is required alongside good reeling power!
Kingfish are also addicted to Blue Runners. Spoons, jigs and large fish plugs also lure them in and bait such as Sardines does well. We will catch live baitfish on our journey to the current hot spots during our Kingfish fishing charters in St. Pete Beach.
Can You Eat Kingfish in Florida?
Yes! Whether you catch or release your Kingfish is up to you. But these fish are known for being delicious and also are perfect for smoking over a live fire and ending up as filets or a killer fish spread.
They’re packed with meat and can be freshly prepared at various restaurants around St. Pete Beach. However, children and pregnant women should not eat Kingfish due to high mercury levels.
What’s the Kingfish Catch Record in Florida?
The Florida and World record Kingfish catch is currently 97.8 lbs in 2020, off Fort Lauderdale!
St. Pete Beach Kingfish Fishing Season Chart
| Month | Fishing Quality |
|---|---|
| Janurary | Weak |
| February | Weak |
| March | Great |
| April | Excellent |
| May | Great |
| June | Fair |
| July | Fair |
| August | Fair |
| September | Good |
| October | Excellent |
| September | Good |
| October | Excellent |
| November | Great |
| December | Weak |
Book a Kingfish Fishing Charter in St. Pete Beach This Spring!
If you’d like to go on a Kingfish fishing charter in St. Pete Beach during this spring’s high season, then give us a call or text at: (727) 433-4200
YACHTFISH knows all the hotspots for catching these delicious fish and would love to get your hands on them.
Book your charter with YACHTFISH today to have the adventure of a lifetime. We guarantee a catch!
