UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, Spanish mackerel peak December–March and are around October–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter Spanish on the Gulf-side shoals — the Content Keys and Marathon bayside in a chum slick.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter Spanish on the Gulf-side shoals — the Content Keys and Marathon bayside in a chum slick.
- FebruaryPeakStill thick on the Gulf side.
- MarchPeak
- AprilAround
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot here
- OctoberAround
- NovemberArriving
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 695 artificial reef, 565 marker / buoy, 49 pass / inlet, 43 beach / surf spots in the The Florida Keys 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 Florida Keys?
Peak season is December–March. Spanish mackerel are in The Florida Keys October–April. January: Winter Spanish on the Gulf-side shoals — the Content Keys and Marathon bayside in a chum slick.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, marker / buoy — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in The Florida Keys?
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 Florida Keys?
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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