By Captain Jason Webber, USCG-licensed captain, Myrtle Beach Sport Fishing, Murrells Inlet, SC.
Ask ten people around Murrells Inlet what the best fish on the Grand Strand is and you will get ten answers. Ask them what fish they would most like to have on the end of the line right now, and a lot of them are going to say king mackerel. A king does not nibble. It eats a live bait at full speed, turns, and takes a hundred yards of line before you have both hands on the rod. Anglers here call it a smoker run.
When does the fall king mackerel run start in South Carolina?
The fall run builds through September as the bait pods thicken along the beach and holds into late October while the water cools from the low 80s down through the low 70s. Kings show up on this coast twice a year, on the spring and fall migrations, and the fall run is the one we look forward to.
Best month for king mackerel in South Carolina
October. September starts it and late October ends it, but the middle of that window, when the water sits in the mid-70s, is the best kingfish water we see all year.
Where the kings actually are
From the breakers out to the Gulf Stream, in 35 to 100 feet of water. Off Murrells Inlet that means the artificial reefs, the ledges and the live bottom in the 10 to 30 mile range, including the Paradise and Ten Mile reefs. Our species guide lists king mackerel on the nearshore reefs 10 to 20 miles out in 40 to 90 feet, and that is exactly where the fall fish sit.
It is about the bait, not the fish
Menhaden, mullet and cigar minnows pod up along the beach and over the reefs in the fall. Kings follow the bait. Find the pods on the sounder, with birds working or Spanish mackerel and little tunny busting on top, and the kings are underneath. What you are looking for is not the kings. It is the bait.
How we fish for them
- Slow-trolled live bait, usually menhaden, on light wire leader with a stinger rig so the short strike still finds a hook.
- Frozen cigar minnows and spoons pulled on downriggers to cover the water column.
- Light drags. A king that meets a locked-down reel breaks something.
What a king mackerel actually feels like on the rod
The rod loads, the reel screams, and a hundred yards of line are gone before anyone has said a word. Then the fish turns and you gain it back a few feet at a time. A 20-pound king on a live bait is the fight most people come back for, and the bigger fall fish push well past that.
Size and bag limits
In South Atlantic federal waters king mackerel carry a 24-inch fork length minimum and a bag limit of 3 per person per day. Limits last checked 4 September 2026. Rules change; confirm on saltwaterfishing.sc.gov before you keep a fish. The species page on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council site is the primary source.
Eating them: yes, and here is how
Kings get an unfair reputation on the table. Bleed the fish at the boat, ice it hard, cut the dark bloodline out of the fillets, and treat it like a firm, oily fish: grill it, smoke it, or blacken it. Smoked king mackerel dip is a Grand Strand staple for a reason. We clean fish at the dock on request.
Which trip puts you on kings
- The 6-Hour Offshore Day Charter fishes the 20 to 30 mile reefs where the fall kings school, $1,200 to $1,500, leaves 7am.
- The 8-Hour Offshore Day Charter adds the deep ledges and the bottom fishing, $1,800, leaves 7am.
- On the right day the 4-Hour Reef & Wreck Charter reaches them on the inside reefs when the bait is on the beach.
Tournament season
Kingfish tournaments run along the Grand Strand through the fall run, including the long-running events out of Little River. If you want to fish one, or just fish the same water the same week, tell us when you book and we will time the trip to it. The September forecast has the zone-by-zone picture for the start of the run.
Call (843) 231-5453 between 8am and 8pm, or check live availability.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best month for king mackerel in South Carolina?
October, in the middle of the fall run. The run builds through September and holds into late October as the water cools from the low 80s through the low 70s.
How far out do you catch king mackerel off Murrells Inlet?
Ten to thirty miles, over the artificial reefs, ledges and live bottom in 35 to 100 feet of water, wherever the bait pods are.
What is the king mackerel limit in South Carolina?
In South Atlantic federal waters, 24-inch fork length minimum and 3 fish per person per day. Confirm current limits with SAFMC or SCDNR before your trip.
Which charter is best for king mackerel?
The 6-Hour Offshore Day is built around the fall king run; the 8-Hour Offshore Day adds bottom fishing on the deeper ledges.