Spanish Mackerel: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Nature Coast and Big Bend, FL.

Fishing region

Season in Big Bend

Peak months: May, Oct.

JFMAMJJASOND

FWC: absent from north Florida waters in winter, leave when water drops below 70 F. Cedar Key: early spring appearance at Seahorse Reef and a fall 'Mack Attack'. Steinhatchee: moving south in October. (Our inference)

Season by region

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Where to find them

Cedar Key's Seahorse Reef and 'The Hook' northeast of the Steel Tower, trolled with a #00 Clarkspoon or a yellow jig at about 4 knots (Thompson).

Often beyond the first bar; sometimes right in the trough when bait is pinned.

What to look for

Birds (terns especially) diving on small bait, bait showering, quick slashing splashes on the surface.

What to throw

Got-Cha style jig plug7/8 to 1 oz, 3 to 3.5 in. Sharp upward rod-tip jerks while reeling fast, so it darts and flashes.

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Silver casting spoon (Clarkspoon or Drone style)1/2 to 1 oz, No. 0 to 1 / 2.5 to 3.5 in. Burn it. Fast, steady, just under the surface.

Swimming minnow plug (Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow style)3/4 to 1 oz, 4 to 5 in. Steady medium retrieve with occasional twitches and pauses.

Bait

Free-lined live finger mullet, Glass minnows. Free-line or light float rig with a short wire or 30 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Leader

20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon, 18 to 36 in, or a short #3 to #4 wire. Skip shiny swivels; mackerel hit them and cut you off.

Common mistakes

Retrieving too slowly; mackerel chase fast lures
Using a bright swivel that draws strikes and cut-offs
Casting into the middle of the school instead of past it

Landing

Swing small fish up on a wave; on a heavier fish let a wave carry it up the beach rather than dragging it through the wash.

Handling

Very sharp teeth

Use pliers to unhook. Keep fingers away from the mouth.

Keep or release

Good eating (LSU). Florida rules apply.

Recipes for spanish mackerel

Typical: About 15 in, 1.5 lb. Large: Fall fish 18 to 22 in, 2.5 to 3 lb. SC record 11 lb (1983).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.

Sources

Florida FWC species profile: Spanish mackerel (Official source)
Visit Natural North Florida, Capt. Tommy Thompson, Oct 23, 2015: Spanish mackerel at Cedar Key's Seahorse Reef and The Hook (Angler knowledge)
Visit Natural North Florida, Sept 5, 2018: Steinhatchee fishing forecast for September and October (Capt. Rick Davidson, Sea Hag Marina) (Angler knowledge)
ASMFC Spanish mackerel species profile (Official source)
NOAA Fisheries: Spanish mackerel (Official source)
Fisherman's Post North Myrtle Beach / Little River reports 2025-2026 (Angler knowledge)
Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
SCDNR species profile: Spanish mackerel (Official source)

All the fish of Big Bend

Spanish Mackerel