UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in The Florida Panhandle
In The Florida Panhandle, Spanish mackerel peak May–June and September–October and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Peak spring: beaches, passes and the pier ends.
Spanish everywhere on the beach and in the passes on the glass-minnow schools.
Spanish mackerel in The Florida Panhandle, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot hereThe first pompano hit the beach; cobia start the run. Sand fleas and pompano jigs in the surf troughs; scan the beach from a tower for cobia riding the rays. Trout push back onto the flats.
- AprilArrivingSpanish arrive in the passes on the bait — Pensacola, Destin and St. Andrew.
- MayPeakPeak spring: beaches, passes and the pier ends.
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeakFall run builds.
- OctoberPeakSpanish everywhere on the beach and in the passes on the glass-minnow schools.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Pensacola, Destin, Panama City
Deep bays behind long barrier islands — Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, Apalachicola — with grass flats on the bay side, bayous and creek mouths, and the passes cut through to the Gulf. Emerald water on the beach side; the surf is a real fishery here.
Fish Scouter charts 1,669 artificial reef, 162 marker / buoy, 79 beach / surf, 12 pass / inlet spots in the The Panhandle 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 Panhandle?
Peak season is May–June and September–October. Spanish mackerel are in The Florida Panhandle April–November. May: Peak spring: beaches, passes and the pier ends.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in The Florida Panhandle?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in The Florida Panhandle?
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 Panhandle?
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
Fish Scouter scores Spanish mackerel for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about Spanish mackerel · The Panhandle, the whole year