Southern kingfish
Menticirrhus americanus
Texas recreational state waters: no species-specific bag, possession or length limit is listed for southern kingfish in the reviewed Outdoor Annual. General fishing requirements still apply.
Texas recreational state waters · Regulation reference 2026-09-01–2027-08-31. General license, gear and area restrictions still apply.
TPWD rule source ↗TPWD general limit policy ↗
Identify your catch
Gray-brown above, silver below, with faint diagonal dark markings and a single chin barbel. Gulf kingfish has a dark tail tip and is a different species.
Habitat & biology
Uses shallow coastal sand and muddy-sand bottoms, surf zones, bays and estuaries. Eats small fish and invertebrates.
Fishing knowledge
Whiting is a common name shared by several kingfish species. This profile covers southern kingfish; it is unrelated to king mackerel harvest rules.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
FWC identification & biology ↗Not Listed in Advisory for this named bay in the reviewed DSHS index. Nearby water may have different restrictions; this is not a safety guarantee.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
San Antonio Bay
Recorded occurrence is historical evidence, not an abundance estimate or a promise of a common local catch.
Official species record evidence ↗Before you go
Sources & coastal evidence
Coastal reference review 2026-10-14. Record evidence: San Antonio Bay. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.