Spanish Mackerel: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Southeast Florida, Fort Pierce to Miami.

Fishing region

Season in Southeast Florida

JFMAMJJASOND

NOAA: the Atlantic stock winters off Florida. Juno Bait: a few on the pier in April, smaller fish scattered around the pier in August, spotty in October. (Our inference)

Season by region

Myrtle Beach	JFMAMJJASOND
Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Connecticut	JFMAMJJASOND
North Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
South Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
Delmarva	JFMAMJJASOND
Virginia Beach	JFMAMJJASOND
Outer Banks	JFMAMJJASOND
Southern NC	JFMAMJJASOND
Charleston	JFMAMJJASOND
Georgia	JFMAMJJASOND
Northeast Florida	JFMAMJJASOND
Space Coast	JFMAMJJASOND
Southeast Florida	JFMAMJJASOND
Florida Keys	JFMAMJJASOND
Southwest Florida	JFMAMJJASOND
Tampa Bay	JFMAMJJASOND
Big Bend	JFMAMJJASOND
Panhandle	JFMAMJJASOND
Alabama	JFMAMJJASOND
Mississippi	JFMAMJJASOND
Louisiana	JFMAMJJASOND
Upper Texas	JFMAMJJASOND
Middle Texas	JFMAMJJASOND
Lower Texas	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Juno Beach Pier on small white jigs (Juno Bait), and the beach where bait is pushed.

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 fresh; bleed and ice quickly. Florida rules apply; see the regulations file.

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

NOAA Fisheries: Spanish mackerel (Official source)
Juno Bait and Tackle, Easter Weekend Fishing Outlook, April 17 2025 (Angler knowledge)
Juno Bait and Tackle, Weekend Fishing Outlook, August 14 2026 (Todd Mitchell) (Angler knowledge)
Juno Bait and Tackle, Weekend Fishing Outlook, October 10 2024 (Angler knowledge)
ASMFC Spanish mackerel species profile (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 Southeast Florida

Spanish Mackerel