UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, Spanish mackerel peak May–June and October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. October: Fall run south.
Fall run south.
Spanish mackerel in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingSpanish arrive on the beaches and at the jetties.
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeakFall run south.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 598 marker / buoy, 130 artificial reef, 18 beach / surf, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast 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 The First Coast?
Peak season is May–June and October. Spanish mackerel are in The First Coast April–November. October: Fall run south.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in The First Coast?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in The First Coast?
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 The First Coast?
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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about Spanish mackerel · The First Coast, the whole year