King Mackerel in Louisiana
Limits, record and places to fish for king mackerel.
- 3 a daylimit
- 82.0 lbrecord
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Where king mackerel stand under LDWF rules
In the Sportsman’s Paradise rulebook, king mackerel fall under the saltwater entry “King mackerel”. The numbers there: 3 daily per person; 24″ min fork length, season open year-round in state waters.
Top of the LOWA rod and reel list: 82.0 lb by W.D. Lamb, a water not printed, 1980.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| King mackerel | Louisiana state waters | 3 daily per person; 24" min fork length | Open year-round in state waters |
Possession: Same as daily bag limit unless otherwise noted (pamphlet p.28)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 28 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF saltwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Louisiana state record king mackerel
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| saltwater | Rod & Reel | 82.0 lb | W.D. Lamb | not printed | Sept 1980 |
| saltwater | Fly Fishing | 36.0 lb | Pete Cooper Jr. | Southwest Pass | Dec. 1995 |
Close behind the record king mackerel
- 78.25 lb, Debra R. Sebastian, Nov 1981
- 76.75 lb, Robert T. Barnes, Sept 1979
- 75.25 lb, Terry Levy, Sept 1979
- 75.0 lb, Dwight G. Bardwell, Nov 1981
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
More Louisiana fish beside king mackerel
- Spanish Mackerelsaltwater
Cypress, marsh and open water by King Mackerel, in photos
Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: rgriff3471, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
king mackerel across Louisiana, question by question
How many king mackerel go in the Louisiana ice chest?
Under the pamphlet, 3 daily per person; 24" min fork length, open open year-round in state waters.
Who holds the Louisiana king mackerel record?
82.0 lb out of a water not printed; W.D. Lamb, 1980 (rod and reel).
Which lakes or bays list king mackerel?
This site has not tied it to a water.
Are king mackerel stocked in Louisiana?
It is not among the LDWF stockings on file.
Do any Louisiana waters set their own king mackerel rule?
The statewide row holds on every water.
What is the season for king mackerel in Louisiana?
Read the season as Open year-round in state waters.
Do nonresidents need a license for Louisiana king mackerel?
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents.
What does a king mackerel record claim need in Louisiana?
LOWA runs the record list; species are verified by LDWF biologists.