kingfish

[ king-fish ]

/ ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃ /

any of several marine food fishes of the drum family, especially of the genus Menticirrhus, found off the E coast of the U.S.

Also called white croaker. a marine food fish, Genyonemus lineatus, found off the Californian coast.

king mackerel.

a large game fish, Seriola grandis, found in Australia and New Zealand, closely related to the yellowtail.

any of various other fishes noted especially for their size.

Informal. a person regarded as a leader or authority: a kingfish in Democratic Party circles.

Origin of kingfish

First recorded in 1740–50; king + fish

The "Kingfish" popularized the catch phrase "Holy Mackerel!"

Herman Cain’s Failure to Be a ‘MackDaddy’ Killed His Campaign |Mansfield Frazier |December 4, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
A correspondent wrote that Johnson’s attack had managed to transform the Kingfish ‘from a clown into a real political menace.

How to Beat the Demagogues |Michael Signer |March 27, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
We had Father Coughlin and the Kingfish, Huey Long, railing against Franklin Roosevelt.

Introducing Beast Books |Tina Brown |January 22, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
For its size, the kingfish is considered the gamest of all salt-water fishes.

Bass, Pike, Perch, and Others |James Alexander Henshall

My brother pulled in this kingfish, which was small, and we rebaited our hooks and went on again.

Tales of Fishes |Zane Grey
It is frequently caught by the Key West fishermen when trolling for kingfish with a bait of bacon-rind.

Bass, Pike, Perch, and Others |James Alexander Henshall
Mostly they are caught by accident while drags are set for kingfish or barracuda.

Tales of Fishes |Zane Grey
But as I fish for sailfish with a free-running reel, of course I am exasperated when a kingfish takes hold.

Tales of Fishes |Zane Grey

kingfish

/ (ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃ) /

any marine sciaenid food and game fish of the genus Menticirrhus, occurring in warm American Atlantic coastal waters

another name for opah

any of various other large food fishes, esp the Spanish mackerel

Also called: (NZ) haku a large food and game fish, Seriola lalandi lalandi, of New Zealand waters