UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Indian River Lagoon
In Indian River Lagoon, Spanish mackerel peak April–May and October–November and are around March–December, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. October: Fall run behind the mullet.
Fall run behind the mullet.
Spanish mackerel in Indian River Lagoon, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingSpring run off the beaches and at the inlets.
- AprilPeakSpring peak on the lagoon; cobia and kings off Canaveral. Trout and reds on the flats early; cobia on the nearshore rays and buoys; kings on the Canaveral reefs; the first tarpon at Ponce.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAroundThe mullet run: snook reopens, reds, tarpon and jacks on the beach. Snook harvest reopens the 1st. Beach and inlet blitzes on the mullet; reds schooled in the lagoon; trout feed as the water cools.
- OctoberPeakFall run behind the mullet.
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville
Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River and the northern Indian River Lagoon — shallow, clear, grass-and-sand flats famous for sight-fishing tailing redfish and giant trout — plus Port Canaveral and Ponce Inlet, the beaches, and the nearshore reefs.
Fish Scouter charts 489 marker / buoy, 85 artificial reef, 11 beach / surf, 3 pass / inlet spots in the The Space Coast Lagoons 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 Indian River Lagoon?
Peak season is April–May and October–November. Spanish mackerel are in Indian River Lagoon March–December. October: Fall run behind the mullet.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Indian River Lagoon?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville, Port Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Indian River Lagoon?
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 Indian River Lagoon?
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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