Spanish macro fish12/26/2023 ![]() Since most Spanish mackerel are found inshore and nearshore running along the beaches, boaters can usually find plenty of fish without having to go far from the shoreline. Trolling for Spanish mackerel is very effective and very common among anglers. Just like fishing inshore, if you can find the birds circling and diving down into the water feeding on bait fish, there is a chance that Spanish mackerel could also be in the area feeding on those same bait fish. In open water, schools of Spanish mackerel can be found feeding on schools of bait fish near the surface. Anglers usually catch them by accident while fishing the reefs and wrecks for other fish like grouper and snapper. Offshore, you can sometimes find Spanish mackerel on the reefs and wrecks. While most Spanish mackerel are found inshore or nearshore, some anglers do catch these fish offshore as well. Trolling with spoons, jigs and crankbaits are another very effective method for catching Spanish mackerel. Most anglers prefer using lures over live bait, especially when these fish are feeding aggressively on bait fish near the surface. Live baits such as finger mullet, small menhaden, pilchards and shrimp work well for Spanish mackerel. Spanish mackerel are very fast and they like to eat fast-moving baits. To catch these fish, jigs and shiny spoons work great on fast retrieves. Feeding birds means bait fish and there’s a good chance that some Spanish mackerel will be around feeding on the bait fish. The most experienced anglers will usually look for birds circling and diving down into the water. The deeper water around the piers and bridges tend to be more productive for Spanish mackerel. Some other good areas to fish are off of the piers and bridges. Anglers target Spanish mackerel in open water inshore, nearshore and in the surf along the beaches. When they do migrate into the area that you are fishing, you can usually find Spanish mackerel schooling up and chasing bait fish in open water. ![]() Because they travel such great distances at such fast speeds, you may find large schools of them in your area one day and they may be gone the next. If you decide to refrigerate them overnight or put them in the freezer, they will not taste nearly as good as if you would have cooked them the same day that you caught them. The key to eating this fish is to get it on ice right away and cook them the same day that you catch them. However, some anglers do enjoy eating them. Spanish mackerel have the reputation of having a very fishy taste and not being very good for table fare. Medium to medium heavy action rods are fine for most situations. Some anglers will go heavy and use up to 20 pound test line for their main line, but they will still most likely use a fluorocarbon leader that is heavier to avoid bite-offs. Because most Spanish mackerel will be in the 2 to 3 pound range, you will most likely only need 8 to 12 pound test line as your main line, which is why the leader is so important. Fluorocarbon leaders that range from 25 to 50 pound test line have become common for Spanish mackerel fishing. Experienced Spanish mackerel anglers will tell you that you are going to get a lot less bites with the wire leaders. Some anglers prefer using wire leaders, especially when using very fast retrieves with artificial lures. Leaders are a must because of their super sharp teeth. Spanish mackerel aren’t huge, but they can tear through your line in a hurry. Some of the best lures to use are jigs, spoons, crankbaits and swimbaits. ![]() ![]() The piers and bridges can also offer some good fishing for Spanish mackerel when these fish are moving through the area looking for bait fish. Certain beaches do provide some surf fishing opportunities for spanish mackerel, but most anglers have better success fishing from a boat. The most common method of fishing for spanish mackerel would be trolling spoons about a half mile to a few miles off the beaches. These fish travel in schools and they feed on small fish and shrimp. Most fish that are caught by anglers will be in the 2 to 3 pound range. ![]()
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