To the untrained eye, a Schoolie (young king mackerel usually fewer than thirty inches) looks much the same as a large Spanish mackerel. Not knowing the difference can land you a citation or worse, a night in the poky. Large Spanish and Schoolies run together this time of year and the only real difference you need to know is that the king must be 24 inches in length to the fork for possession. The ways to tell the difference is either one is a smoker at 40 inches plus in size or has a quick break at its lateral line in the shape of a “L” slanted to the side; generally speaking. Also, the dorsal of the Spanish is usually darker in color than that of the infamous kingfish whose colors are generally a grey to whitish in shade, with a gentle sloping into its head vs. the straight up and down of the Spanish on the start of its dorsal. These are fine points to remember for a clean and responsible trip angling upon our inshore Florida waters. Edwin below holds a 26 inch Schoolie King on the left caught on a red head and silver Gotcha on a Pflueger with Trilene 12-pound test on an Ugly Stick. The Spanish on the right was caught on the same tackle except I was using an Orange on clear plastic Gotcha bounced off the bottom. Ladyfish were abounding with large smokers and Cobia hitting threads and Greenbacks; go figure.
“FISH ON!”
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