North Carolina has two migratory groups of king mackerel, scomberomorus cavalla, one considered an offshore group that moves to the warm waters near the beach in spring, summer and fall and then retreats to warmer offshore waters near the Gulf Stream during the winter, and the coastal migrators that migrate up an down the coast, from Florida to Virginia related to water temperature and abundance and absence of forage fish for food.
The coastal migrators are typically found within sight of land and are the majority of the fish caught from ocean piers and at nearshore artificial reefs. These kings are also following forage fish and gather for a few weeks around Cape Fear sometime between mid-April and mid-June, traveling north and then again for several weeks during September and October while traveling south.
The hot fall fishing is when both groups are in the area. No bait is safe, and the action can be almost non-stop.
The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, scheduled for Oct. 1-3 out of Southport Marina in Southport, is one of the oldest king mackerel tournaments, celebrating its 37th year.
The U.S. Open consistently draws 400 boats or more and has been the largest king mackerel tournament in the country the past several years. Its biggest draw is that it is held during the fall king run, and some of the largest kings are caught within sight of the beach. This levels the field between large and small boats and makes it possible for anyone to win.
Fishermen often express their desire to catch “the man,” but that isn’t the case with king mackerel.
According to Randy Gregory, a biologist with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, more than 90 percent of all kings heavier than 20 pounds are females. The percentage climbs above 95 percent at 25 pounds and is greater than 99 percent for kings surpassing 30 pounds. Those big boys are actually girls, and many are as strong and hit as hard as Ronda Rousey.
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