When kings are off Little River
King mackerel fishing out of Little River has two windows: a spring arrival and a fall run. Boats fish nearshore water within about 15 miles, and Voyager trolls 10 to 30 miles out. FishingBooker’s Little River guide describes both windows. Inlet and port details are on the Little River port page.
| Window | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| Spring | Kings arrive |
| Fall | The local run, with the Rumble in the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament, usually in October |
Spring arrival
Kings arrive in spring. The wider Atlantic southeast picture (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide) shows where Little River’s arrival and fall run sit along the coast.
Fall run
The fall run is the main local event, and the Rumble in the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament, usually held in October, is built on it. For how kings move along the coast, see our king mackerel species page.
How far boats run from Little River Inlet
Two ranges matter, and they overlap between 10 and 15 miles.
| Run | Distance from Little River Inlet |
|---|---|
| Nearshore | Within about 15 miles |
| Voyager trolling | 10 to 30 miles out |
Nearshore, within about 15 miles
Ninety Ninety Rock, Three Mile Reef, Little River Reef, General Sherman Wreck and PA-02 all fall inside the nearshore range.
Trolling 10 to 30 miles out
Voyager’s range reaches deeper structure such as BP-25 at 92 ft. Before you run, read the official NWS marine forecast and check wind, wave height and period as numbers.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
The grounds below are listed in order from the beach outward, with depth and location where known. Little River Reef at 25 ft and BP-25 at 92 ft mark the two ends of the depth range.
| Ground | Depth | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Ninety Ninety Rock | Within a few miles of land | |
| Three Mile Reef | ||
| Little River Reef | 25 ft | |
| General Sherman Wreck | 48 ft | |
| Little River Offshore Reef (PA-02) | 55 ft | Bearing 156 degrees, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet |
| Ron McManus Memorial Reef (PA-04) | ||
| BP-25 Reef | 92 ft | |
| Blackjack | Offshore fishing area, blackfin and mahi |
Ninety Ninety Rock
Within a few miles of land, this is the closest named bottom.
Three Mile Reef
A named reef in the nearshore line-up.
Little River Reef
At 25 ft, this is the shallow nearshore option.
General Sherman Wreck
A wreck in 48 ft.
Little River Offshore Reef (PA-02)
Sits in 55 ft, bearing 156 degrees, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet.
Ron McManus Memorial Reef (PA-04)
A named reef in the offshore line-up.
BP-25 Reef
At 92 ft, BP-25 is the deepest named ground on this list and is reached on the longer trolling runs.
Blackjack
A named offshore fishing area that also produces blackfin and mahi. For those species, see our offshore gamefish pages.
Check reef positions against SCDNR’s published reef locations and the official NOAA chart catalog. Chart Contours and other app chart layers are not for navigation.
How kings are fished here
Local anglers either troll to cover water or fish live bait over bottom that holds baitfish.
Trolling spoons, planers and skirted rigs
Local trolling tools:
- Spoons
- Planers
- Skirted rigs
Trolling covers water and suits the 10 to 30 mile runs.
Live bait over bottom holding baitfish
Live bait over bottom holding baitfish has been the best approach at times. Look for named structure where baitfish hold.
Who fishes kings out of Little River
Charters and a tournament shape the local fishery.
Charters that list kings
- Voyager Fishing Charters (Voyager Deep Sea Fishing & Dolphin Cruises): Super Voyager III and Continental Shelf. Trolls 10 to 30 miles out.
- Chilly Water Fishing: 27 ft Triton 2690 with two 200 HP Suzuki outboards, Captain Bevan Hunter.
- Captain Smiley Fishing Charters
- Fish Screamer III (Fish Screamer Charters): 41 ft custom fiberglass boat, Captain Danny Juel.
Rumble in the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament
The Rumble in the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament is usually held in October and is built on this fishery.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of Little River
When do king mackerel show up off Little River?
They arrive in spring, with a fall run.
How far do boats run for kings from Little River?
Nearshore is within about 15 miles. Voyager trolls 10 to 30 miles out.
What reefs near Little River Inlet hold kings?
Named grounds include Little River Reef at 25 ft, General Sherman Wreck at 48 ft and BP-25 at 92 ft. Little River Offshore Reef (PA-02) is 55 ft, bearing 156 degrees, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet.
How are kings fished locally?
Boats troll spoons, planers and skirted rigs. Live bait over bottom holding baitfish has been the best approach at times.
What tournament targets kings out of Little River?
The Rumble in the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament, usually held in October.
