Spanish Mackerel

• Description
  • Color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line.
  • Front of dorsal fin black.
  • Lateral line curves gently to base of tail.
  
  

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• General Information
  • Spanish mackerel are schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when the water temperature drops below 70 degrees F.
  • Most spanish mackerel are caught by trolling from boats in nearshore waters, but surf-casters catch them during the summer.
  
  

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• Distribution
  • Spanish mackerel spawns offshore, spring through summer.
  • In the spring the migration begins and anglers along both coasts start seeing the fish show up as the ocean waters warm up.
  • The schools of mackerel follow the warming trend and by June are commonly caught in the northern Gulf of Mexico and off the Jacksonville coast.
  • The fish will remain in the northern parts, especially in the Gulf, until the fall when the first cold fronts send the fish south for the winter.
  
  

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• Tackle and Techniques
  • Medium duty spinning or bait casting tackle with 6-12 pound test line is suitable.
  • Use a heavy monofilament leader or a small diameter wire leader. This fish has a mouthful of small sharp teeth that can cut a monofilament leader.
  
  

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• Bait
  • Spanish mackerel feeds on small fish and squid.
  • They like live shrimp or finger mullet.
  • Hook the bait and free-line it in the water column.
  • For trolling or casting a spoon or jigs work best.
  • If you see the fish but they don't seem to be hungry try changing to a smaller sized bait or lure.
  
  

Secrets to Success

A good way to locate the schools of fish is to look for birds such as pelicans and terns. If you see groups of them working a small area it's a good indication that they are feeding on a school of baitfish. In the absence of the birds, look for a large patch of disturbed water. That's also an indication of the baitfish. If mackerel are around it's a good bet that they will be under the baitfish and feeding on them.

Another way to locate schools of fish is to troll with a spoon or jig. Even at a slow speed you can cover a lot of water in a short period of time. Eventually you will find some fish if they are in the area. When you hook the first fish continue to work the area. Being a schooling species there will be more than one fish around.