When king mackerel are around St. Marys
King mackerel fishing out of St. Marys winds down in early September. Florida-side reports call late August the last of kingfish season. Those reports come from the Fernandina Beach side of St. Marys Inlet, which Georgia and Florida boats share, so the water they describe is the same water you run out of St. Marys.
For how king mackerel move through the year, start with the species page. For the wider calendar, see the run along the Southeast coast (see also the wider Atlantic Southeast guide).
Where boats run for kings out of St. Marys
Boats run from the St. Marys jetties out to the Ledge, and Rainbreak’s 10-hour trip ranges up to 60 miles offshore.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marys jetties (north and south) | – | At St. Marys Inlet |
| St. Marys Sea Buoy | – | Outside the inlet |
| FA fish haven (live bottom, tug and barge) | – | Florida side of the inlet |
| Reef KBY | 35-45 | 8 nm east of Cumberland Island |
| Brenda K. (tug) | About 50 | At KBY, 30.805283, -81.27555 |
| Reef MRY (Metalmorphosis, 52-ft steel vessel) | 63 at the vessel | Deeper, clearer water than KBY, per Georgia DNR |
| Reefs A and CDH | – | Listed as nearby reefs on the KBY page |
| The Ledge / Big Ledge | 120-200 | Continental shelf edge, trolling depths |
There are three basic runs: live bait at the jetties, the nearshore DNR reefs, or the trip out to the Ledge.
Jetties and inlet
Live-bait kings are reported at the St. Marys jetties, north and south, at St. Marys Inlet, including on the Florida side. The method is slow-trolled live bait, covered below.
St. Marys Sea Buoy
The St. Marys Sea Buoy sits outside the inlet and serves as a reference point where boats set a course offshore.
FA fish haven
The FA fish haven is live bottom with a tug and barge, on the Florida side of the inlet.
Reef KBY and the Brenda K.
Georgia DNR puts Reef KBY 8 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island in 35 to 45 ft. The tug Brenda K. sits at KBY in about 50 ft.
30.805283, -81.27555
Chart layers are not for navigation. Check the official chart before you run.
Reef MRY
The Metalmorphosis is a 52-ft steel vessel, and the depth at the vessel is 63 ft. Georgia DNR describes MRY as deeper with clearer water than KBY, which makes it the option when KBY is off-color.
Reefs A and CDH
Reefs A and CDH are listed as nearby reefs on Georgia DNR’s KBY page.
The Ledge
The Ledge, also called the Big Ledge, is the continental shelf edge. Trolling there starts at 120 ft and runs to 200 ft. Rainbreak runs 12-hour trips to the Ledge, and its 10-hour trip, which lists king mackerel, runs up to 60 miles offshore. Runs this far reach federal waters, covered in the regulations section below.
How kings are fished out of St. Marys
Trolling is the reported method out of St. Marys, from slow-trolled live bait at the jetties to outrigger and downrigger spreads offshore.
Slow-trolling live bait
Florida-side jetty captains slow-troll live bait. The rig they report:
20-lb tackle · 40-lb wire leader · stinger trebles
The wire leader guards against the kings’ teeth.
Outrigger and downrigger spreads
Rainbreak teaches outrigger and downrigger spreads, the offshore setup for the reefs and the Ledge. If you have never run a spread, a charter is a good place to learn it before taking your own boat out.
Who fishes for kings out of St. Marys
Two local charters list king mackerel: Rainbreak Charters and Cumberland Fishing Charters. Both give a view of how king mackerel fishing out of St. Marys is run before you take your own boat out.
Rainbreak Charters
Captain James (Michael) Walker runs Rainbreak Charters. The 10-hour trip runs up to 60 miles offshore and lists king mackerel. Rainbreak also runs 12-hour trips to the Ledge and teaches outrigger and downrigger spreads.
Cumberland Fishing Charters
Captain Ben Allen runs Cumberland Fishing Charters from a 25-ft Contender center console with twin Suzuki outboards.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of St. Marys
When does kingfish season end at St. Marys Inlet?
Florida-side reports from the inlet say kingfish slowed in early September and called late August the last of the season.
How far is Reef KBY, and what is on it?
Georgia DNR puts it 8 nm east of Cumberland Island in 35 to 45 ft. The tug Brenda K. sits at about 50 ft at 30.805283, -81.27555.
Is MRY deeper than KBY?
Yes. Georgia DNR describes MRY as deeper with clearer water. The Metalmorphosis, a 52-ft steel vessel, sits in 63 ft at the vessel.
What depth do boats troll on the Ledge?
Trolling starts at 120 ft and runs to 200 ft. Rainbreak runs 12-hour Ledge trips, and its 10-hour trips run up to 60 miles offshore.
What else is caught on the same offshore runs?
This page covers kings only. For other species, see coastal and offshore gamefish.
