A certain group of fishermen start getting ready each November around the time the Stuart Air Show takes place at Witham Field. They are aware that the annual arrival of the Spanish mackerel is approaching.
On or around the November full moon, the swift, sleek fish migrates in vast seasonal schools. The fish are generally only about 2-3 pounds, but what they lack in size they make up for in fun. During the winter, a large number of mackerel will congregate in Florida’s coastal waters between Satellite Beach and Juno Beach, depending on weather patterns, moon phases, and ocean currents.
One fish anglers love to catch is Spanish mackerel, especially when using light gear. They are known for fast strikes and blistering runs. Diners enjoy their mild flavor when they are served at home for dinner.
Caleb Couture, a passionate surf angler from Palm Bay, takes anglers on foot to fantastic encounters with pompano, bluefish, whiting, and Spanish mackerel along the tide line. But of all of them, Couture had to spend the most time working on a reliable method for catching Spanish mackerel from shore.
Couture, who runs Tradewinds Surf Fishing Charters and takes people fishing from Vero Beach to Cocoa Beach, said, “I kind of figured them out this past season.” “I used to see them there jumping, but I only occasionally caught them.” “.
He claimed that Couture uses his pink-colored Fishbites and Pompano Riggs by Couture self-tied surfboards. He cuts the artificial bait Fishbites, which is made of cloth and has a scent, into thin strips and casts them. Couture uses the Tsunami Shield 8000 series spinning reels, which have sealed bearings to prevent sand and saltwater from damaging the reel, as well as the 12-foot Tsunami Air Wave surf rod to achieve maximum casting distance.
You can throw the bait out there and let the waves and current work it when they are within 50 to 100 yards, he said. And it’s a win-win because, even if you don’t catch any Spanish mackerel, you’ll probably catch some pompano. “.
Couture claimed that on some occasions, his clients were able to use this technique to catch them all at once.
Another piece of advice from Couture was for Spanish mackerel anglers. He advised filling the ice-filled cooler with saltwater.
The daily bag limit is 15 per person, he continued, but anglers should only bring home enough fish to eat that day.
He said, “They don’t hold up well in the freezer or refrigerator.” “They kind of turn mushy. “.
The location of the Kingfish Hole is likely one of Florida fishing lore’s top five worst kept secrets. There can be so many boats fishing the area on calm days in December and January that it’s easy to mistake it for an in-water boat show or marina.
Anglers no longer need to ask for directions to it because of how many boats are parked there and fishing there, making it so simple to find. It is located about three miles south of St. Lucie Inlet about a quarter-mile to half-mile off the beach.
The dynamics of the Kingfish Hole are special. The “hole” is a sandy depression in the natural coral reef that is just off the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge beach and is about 35 feet deep. It is quite a stark topographic drop-off because the reef only lurks 4-6 feet beneath the waves’ surface.
Unknown factors cause a very large school of Spanish mackerel to congregate here every year for four to six months during the winter. Anglers of all kinds enjoy targeting these fish.
Commercial fishermen heavily fish the area with specially made cast nets to harvest their limits and transport them to market. Hook-and-line commercial fishermen also target them. The same is true of recreational anglers, some of whom use light spinning rods and quickly reeled-in shiny jigs, while others use fly fishing equipment and chartreuse minnow imitation flies.
On days with nice weather, crowds increase and disputes between boaters arise. Avoid these. Fish can be caught more than a mile away from the action because this school of mackerel is frequently dispersed along the entire length of the same reef.
Popular catches from the jetties and piers along the coast of Eastern Florida include Spanish mackerel. Targeting Spanish mackerel at the end of the incoming tide and the start of the outgoing tide is ideal at Fort Pierce Inlets Jetty along its south shoreline.
Similar circumstances exist at Sebastian Inlet State Park, where a fishing deck on the north shore of the inlet extends 1,000 feet into the ocean, making it simple to catch mackerel when they are running. To entice bites, anglers use 7-foot spinning rods and a variety of chrome-plated lures.
Many claim that reeling quickly is the secret to catching Spanish mackerel. And when there are few bites, then reel even faster. The faster the lure retrieve, the better the action.
Additionally, these fish are frequently caught in the Indian River Lagoon’s inshore waters. Schools of Spanish mackerel frequently swim through the Intracoastal Waterway’s channels. Anglers can catch them from causeways, piers, fishing catwalks, and bridges.
When caught, use a sharp knife to cut the fillet, separating the meat from the tiny backbone. Do not remove the outer skin, however. The mild, delicate fillet cooks quickly and easily on a grill or in a pan over indirect heat with the skin-side down. Although they can be smoked and used to make smoked fish dip, most people prefer their mild flavor when broiled.
When it comes to preparing Spanish mackerel, Couture said, “I like to keep it simple.” “I just throw it in the oven for a few minutes with a little butter, salt, and pepper.” “.
Place each mackerel fillet, skin side down in a baking dish, and drizzle with olive oil on both sides. Season each fillet with the paprika, salt and pepper. Top each fillet with two lemon slices.
What is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel?
Since gill netting was outlawed in 1995, February is the best month for catching Spanish mackerel.
What time of year do Spanish mackerel come out?
They spawn in the shallow coastal waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia from April to September. In batches, Spanish mackerel release their eggs during the spawning season. Females can have 500,000 to 1. 5 million eggs over the spawning season.
When and Where to Fish for Spanish Mackerel
The Florida stocks of Spanish mackerel are the ones that migrate north to the Chesapeake Bay, although they are also found off the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. Typically, they arrive in the late spring and arrive at the Bay’s mouth in May or June. In the fall, when they migrate back to Florida, they frequently leave the Bay waters abruptly after a few early-fall cold fronts pass by and the water starts to rapidly cool.
Warm-water fish called Spanish mackerel make summer trips to the Mid-Atlantic region.
Spanish mackerel are primarily caught at the mouth of the bay early in the season, in the Lower Bay throughout the summer and into the fall, and in the Middle Bay from mid-summer through early fall because the season is relatively short and these fish migrate with the seasonal temperature changes. Although less common than in Maryland and Virginia waters, Spanish Mackerel can be found in Delaware’s lower Delaware Bay and off the coast into the Atlantic Ocean. They are typically only present in the middle of summer.
FAQ
What is the season for Spanish mackerel in Florida?
The fishing season runs from April 1 through March 31 in order to observe the Annual Catch Limit. Open year-round. Harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year if landings reach the stock ACL. Open year-round.
Is it a good time for Spanish mackerel fishing in Florida?
The month of February is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel from Stuart to Key West. Top fishing locations include piers and off-beaches areas as well as those near local inlets, the Lower Florida Keys’ Gulf waters, and the Peck’s Lake region south of St.
What temperature do Spanish mackerel like?
Spanish mackerels can’t control their body temperature, so they tend to hang out in waters that are about 68 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Waters with this temperature are usually tropical and subtropical.
What is the best bait to catch Spanish mackerel?
Spanish mackerel, which can be caught using bait and lures, will eat almost anything, including sardines, mullet, cut bait, squid, and shrimp. Although they favor quickly moving bait, they are not particularly picky when they are feeding. Anglers with experience always have shiny spoons and other heavy metal lures available.
