King mackerel out of Dauphin Island
King mackerel fishing out of Dauphin Island revolves around two pieces of structure and one event, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, which is held here. This page names the structure worth checking and shows where kings fit into the Rodeo. It points to places to look and makes no promise of fish.
When they’re around
The Rodeo is held at Dauphin Island, and king mackerel is one of its weigh-in categories. For seasonal timing and general king behavior, use the king mackerel species guide.
Who fishes them
Two groups work kings out of this port: anglers running their own private boats and Rodeo entrants weighing kings. If you fish more than kings, the coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the other species you will meet.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
Two pieces of structure near Dauphin Island are places to look for kings. The chart layers are not for navigation. For the wider picture of runs and structure across the Gulf, see king mackerel fishing in the Gulf of Mexico (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide).
| Structure | Depth |
|---|---|
| Christopher Blankenship Reef Zone | 75 ft |
| Artificial reef beyond a gas platform | Not charted here |
Christopher Blankenship Reef Zone
The Christopher Blankenship Reef Zone sits at 75 ft and is worth checking for kings.
The reef beyond the gas platform
The second place to look is an artificial reef beyond a gas platform. Treat it as another stop on the same plan.
How kings are fished from this port
Locally, kings are fished as a Rodeo weigh-in category.
The Rodeo weigh-in
The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is held at Dauphin Island and includes a king mackerel weigh-in category. If you are fishing the Rodeo, the reef zone at 75 ft and the platform reef are two places to start.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of Dauphin Island
Where do boats look for kings off Dauphin Island?
Two places to look are the Christopher Blankenship Reef Zone, at 75 ft, and an artificial reef beyond a gas platform. Both are structure worth checking, though neither guarantees fish.
How deep is the Christopher Blankenship Reef Zone?
The zone sits at 75 ft. Use it as a starting point for your own plan, and check the official sources for the rest.
Is king mackerel part of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo?
Yes. King mackerel is a weigh-in category at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, which is held at Dauphin Island.
Where are the size and bag rules for kings?
The Marine Resources Division sets them for state waters. See the regulations section above, along with the Alabama regulations page and the federal mackerel and cobia rules page, and check them before fishing.
