Spanish mackerel will eat just about anything including sardines, mullet, cut
, squid, and shrimp. They prefer quickly moving bait, but when they’re feeding they are not particularly picky. Seasoned anglers will always keep shiny spoons and other heavy metal lures on hand.
Both king mackerel and Spanish mackerel can be found in the Mid-Atlantic, but Spanish mackerel are much more common, and many anglers prefer to fish for Spanish mackerel in the summer in the Chesapeake Bay. Its also popular along coastal inshore waters most seasons. Check out this quick video about catching Spanish mackerel using light tackle when they are mixed in with bluefish before we examine this species in greater detail.
There are two populations of Spanish Mackerel, or Scomberomorus maculatus, one in the Gulf of Mexico and the other in the Atlantic Ocean. From April to September, fish spawn along the Atlantic Coast. When the northern Atlantic coast starts to cool, the fish move back into southern waters. Other names for them include spotted cybium, horse mackerel, spotted mackerel, Atlantic Spanish mackerel, and Spaniard. Spanish Mackerel have sharp and pointed teeth with elongated bodies. They have small finlets extending from the dorsal and anal fins to the forked tail fin, and they are covered in microscopic scales. Spanish Mackerel have silver sides with brassy oval spots and a back that is greenish or bluish. By the age of two, they can reproduce, and they move through schools quickly. Spanish mackerel have a lifespan of five to eight years and can reach lengths of two feet.
Spanish mackerel move in schools and hunt for their prey, which is typically small menhaden and bay anchovies, by chasing the smaller bait up to the surface and feeding there. There is a good chance that Spanish Mackerel are among the fish driving any birds diving for bait to the surface.
Let’s take a look at some state records: Eric Ludwig caught the largest Spanish mackerel to ever land in Delaware in 2000, and it weighed 6 pounds. 4 pounds.
The record for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay is a 12. 4 pound fish caught by Dean Mitchell in October 2007.
Everett Cameron caught the 9-pound Spanish mackerel that still stands as the state record for Virginia in 1993. and 13 oz.
Best Jig: Tsunami Glass Minnow
Why It Made the Cut
The Tsunami Glass Minnow is a tiny, swift, shiny fish that mimics the tiny baitfish that Spanish mackerel eat.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Matching the size and shape of the small glass minnows that the predators prefer to eat is difficult when trying to catch Spanish mackerel. With a thin 3/8-ounce jig head, Tsunami’s Glass Minnow hits the mark. The Glass Minnow mimics the color and reflection of a speeding glass minnow with its bushy skirt of mylar and flash and long shank hook. The Glass Minnow casts like a bullet for a light lure. Work the lure in the chum slick with a quick, erratic retrieve to entice Spanish blitzing. The Tsunami Glass Minnow has a long shank hook with a needle-sharp point designed to snare short striking fish. Most jigs don’t withstand the Spanish’s razor-sharp teeth for very long, but the Tsunami Glass Minnow is built to last and stay intact.
We anticipate these speedsters’ annual autumn migration through the Carolinas, Georgia, and Gulf states as schools move south before settling in South Florida for the winter. With a quick retrieve, lures that resemble glass minnows, sardines, plichards, and other bait can easily fool Spanish mackerel, which enjoy a variety of small prey. We also have advice for flyfishing and trolling for Spanish mackerel if those methods interest you.
A trace of light wire leader minimizes cut-offs. Change to a 30- to 40-pound mono leader if the bite is tentative. Swivels make connections more quickly, but you should use black or bronze finishes to prevent fish from hitting them and cutting the line. Plenty of sport can be had using medium-light spin or baitcasting rigs, or 7- to 8-weight fly outfits. Discover how to catch mackerel using these tried-and-true Spanish killers:
Best Trolling Lure: Original Clark Spoon
Why It Made the Cut
The Original Clark Spoon is the best Spanish mackerel trolling lure because it is so elegantly simple.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
All a Clark Spoon is is a thin metal strip with a hook. But despite its unassuming appearance, the small spoon has the best trolling lure for Spanish mackerel, which has a seductive action. A Clark Spoon swims side to side while rolling and sparkling as you troll it at up to six knots behind a boat or kayak. I rig the lure on 25 feet of 30-pound monofilament and troll with a planer, bird, or inline sinker. The Clark Spoon is available in a wide range of hues and finishes, but my favorites are pink and chartreuse green.
FAQ
How do you target Spanish mackerel?
- Try using a small gold spoon. …
- Watch for those gray-hounding fish. …
- Utilize a quick retrieve, and if you’re trolling, increase the speed to eight or nine knots.
- Planer or weights can be used to lower a lure below the surface.
- Watch for birds.
What do Spanish mackerel feed on?
Spanish mackerel consume shrimp, squid, and small fish like anchovies, sardines, threadfin herring, and silversides as well as other seafood.
What is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel?
Your best times are typically around sunrise and sunset. However, Spanish are schooling fish that will pass by the pier at any time of day. Spanish Mackerel were caught on the with a Gotcha lure while fishing off the end of the Okaloosa Island Pier.
What bait does mackerel like?
Mackerel can be caught using slow trolling baits and anchovies or sardines make good bait. Shiny lures and topwater lures are what draw this species of mackerel, but small poppers may also be effective.
