Northern Kingfish
Menticirrhus saxatilis
A silvery-gray bottom-dwelling fish with a distinctive barbel under the chin and diagonal dark bars along its sides. Popular among surf and bottom anglers for its strong fighting ability and good eating quality.
Northern Kingfish at a glance
- Scientific name
- Menticirrhus saxatilis
- Typical size
- 8-14 inches, 0.5-2 lbs
- Water
- Saltwater
- Habitat
- Inshore
- Rarity in the Fishdex™
- Common
Habitat
Found in sandy and muddy bottoms along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. Commonly caught from surf, piers, and shallow nearshore waters using bottom rigs with cut bait, squid, or marine worms. Most active during warmer months and often found in schools.
Catch one and it is yours
Log a northern kingfish through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your photo, your personal best, and the exact conditions on the day. The app also carries the slot and season rules for wherever you are standing.
How the Fishdex™ worksNorthern Kingfish questions people ask
Northern Kingfish is Menticirrhus saxatilis.
A typical northern kingfish runs 8-14 inches, 0.5-2 lbs. Cobia records the length and weight of every northern kingfish you log and keeps your personal best on its Fishdex entry.
Found in sandy and muddy bottoms along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. Commonly caught from surf, piers, and shallow nearshore waters using bottom rigs with cut bait, squid, or marine worms. Most active during warmer months and often found in schools. It is a salt water species, filed under inshore in the Fishdex.
Yes. Log one through the Cobia Camera and this entry fills in with your own photo, your personal best, and the conditions on the day you caught it. The app also carries the slot limits and season dates for wherever you are standing. It is free.
Tomorrow morning starts tonight
Set your home water, pick a drive radius, and wake up to a plan.
Android coming soon
iPhone, iOS 17 or later. Setup takes about a minute.