UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, Spanish mackerel peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Island passes and nearshore platforms.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingSpanish show at the barrier islands.
- MayPeakTrout spawn on the barrier islands. Wade Grand Isle, Elmer's and the Chandeleurs at first light; red snapper on the rigs when open.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakIsland passes and nearshore platforms.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakBull reds spawn at the passes and the Chandeleurs. Cracked crab or cut mullet for bulls; trout move back into the bays.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie
Millions of acres of marsh, ponds and bayous — Calcasieu, Barataria, Terrebonne, Lake Pontchartrain, Breton and Chandeleur sounds — fringed by barrier islands at Grand Isle, Elmer's and the Chandeleurs, the Mississippi River passes at Venice, and thousands of oil and gas platforms from the beach to blue water.
Fish Scouter charts 438 artificial reef spots in the The Louisiana Marsh 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 Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Spanish mackerel are in Louisiana Coast April–October. July: Island passes and nearshore platforms.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf, marker / buoy — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Louisiana 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 Louisiana Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and change — read the current rule at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-fishing-licenses-and-permits.
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All about Spanish mackerel · The Louisiana Marsh, the whole year