UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Biscayne Bay
In Biscayne Bay, Spanish mackerel peak December–March and are around October–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter fish off the beaches and in the cuts.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in Biscayne Bay, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter fish off the beaches and in the cuts.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilAround
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami
Biscayne Bay's grass flats and the finger channels between them, the bayside mangrove shorelines of the national park, the inlets (Government Cut, Haulover, Port Everglades), and the reef line within a couple of miles of the beach.
Fish Scouter charts 734 marker / buoy, 515 artificial reef, 20 beach / surf, 18 pass / inlet spots in the Miami & Biscayne Bay map area — the kinds Spanish mackerel hold on.
What to use for Spanish mackerel
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel in Biscayne Bay?
Peak season is December–March. Spanish mackerel are in Biscayne Bay October–April. January: Winter fish off the beaches and in the cuts.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Biscayne Bay?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Homestead, Key Biscayne, Miami, Haulover, Fort Lauderdale.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Biscayne Bay?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), spanish sardines. Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for Spanish mackerel in Biscayne Bay?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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