Kingfish are highly sought-after marine predators, renowned for their power, speed, and aggressive feeding habits across the world’s oceans. The general term “kingfish” is used broadly, but it universally refers to a swift, often large, and successful hunter. Understanding their diet is fundamental to appreciating their role in the marine ecosystem and their reputation among anglers and marine biologists alike. This article explores the specific prey items and feeding strategies that define these diverse fish.
Clarifying Which Kingfish We Are Discussing
The name “kingfish” is a common name applied to several distinct species across the globe, which can cause some confusion. In the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, the name primarily refers to the King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla). Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly Australia and New Zealand, it is used for the Yellowtail Amberjack (Seriola lalandi). These are the large, fast-swimming pelagic predators that dominate the open water column. A third group includes the smaller, bottom-dwelling species like the Southern Kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), often called whiting, which belong to the drum family.
Primary Prey of Adult Pelagic Kingfish
The diet of large, adult pelagic kingfish, such as the King Mackerel and Yellowtail Amberjack, is dominated by fast-moving schooling fish. These sleek, carnivorous predators target species like anchovies, sardines, menhaden, and herring, which congregate in large groups in the water column. The size of the prey fish consumed by King Mackerel commonly averages between four and six inches in length, and surprisingly, this prey size does not significantly increase with the size of the adult kingfish.
These fish are highly opportunistic apex predators that readily adjust their diet based on local availability and seasonal migration patterns. Beyond finfish, cephalopods form a regular part of their meals, with squid being a significant food source for both Yellowtail Amberjack and King Mackerel. They also consume crustaceans like shrimp, though these non-fish items make up only a small percentage of their total intake.
Diet Shifts: Juveniles and Bottom Feeders
The feeding habits of kingfish differ substantially across their life stages and species groups. Juvenile King Mackerel begin their lives by consuming small invertebrates, such as tiny crustaceans and nudibranch larvae. As they grow, their diet quickly shifts to include small baitfish, with anchovies being a primary food source for young King Mackerel. This transition reflects their development into the primarily piscivorous adults.
The smaller species like the Southern Kingfish, or whiting, maintain a diet focused on the seafloor throughout their lives. These bottom feeders use a specialized chin barbel to sense and forage for food in the muddy-sand substrate. Their meals consist mainly of benthic invertebrates, including marine worms like polychaetes, small crabs, shrimp, and the siphons of buried bivalve mollusks. They are often found in high wave action areas where the turbulence dislodges their preferred prey from the sediment.
Hunting Strategies and Feeding Behavior
The predatory success of the larger kingfish relies heavily on their remarkable speed and coordinated social behavior. Both King Mackerel and Yellowtail Amberjack often hunt in schools, using their collective presence to herd and disorient dense baitfish aggregations. King Mackerel are capable of rapid, short bursts of speed, exceeding 30 miles per hour, which they use to execute ambush attacks on their prey.
King Mackerel possess a specialized feeding method involving their powerful jaws and razor-sharp teeth. They commonly slash through a school of fish, stunning or slicing their victims before circling back to consume the incapacitated prey. This aggressive strategy often makes them “reaction feeders,” which is why they respond well to fast-moving bait. The bottom-dwelling Southern Kingfish employs a more stationary hunting strategy, using its downturned mouth and sensory organs to probe the sediment for hidden crustaceans and worms.