UTERKing mackerel fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, king mackerel peak October–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter kings on the reef edge off Jupiter and Fort Pierce.
Peak mullet run; reds and trout in the lagoon; flounder at the inlets. Follow the mullet down the beach; reds and trout feed on the lagoon flats as the water cools; flounder stage on the inlet sand.
King mackerel in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter kings on the reef edge off Jupiter and Fort Pierce.
- FebruaryPeakSnook opens; pompano in the surf; kings and cobia nearshore. Snook harvest opens the 1st at the inlets and bridges; pompano run the beach; kings and cobia on the reef and wrecks.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeakSpring kings on the reef before they head north.
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingFall kings back on the reefs.
- OctoberPeakPeak mullet run; reds and trout in the lagoon; flounder at the inlets. Follow the mullet down the beach; reds and trout feed on the lagoon flats as the water cools; flounder stage on the inlet sand.
- NovemberPeakFlounder run through the inlets; trout on the flats; pompano return. The Sebastian and Fort Pierce flounder run on the outgoing; trout thick on the lagoon grass; pompano back in the surf.
- DecemberPeakSnook closes mid-month; sheepshead, drum and pompano take over. Last snook harvest to the 14th; sheepshead and drum on the bridges, pompano on the beach, trout in the deeper lagoon holes.
Where to fish king mackerel near Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart
The inlets and the Intracoastal behind them, the southern Indian River Lagoon's grass flats and spoil islands, the St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers, the beaches, and a reef line that comes within a mile of the sand from Jupiter south.
Fish Scouter charts 442 artificial reef, 264 wreck, 189 ledge / hard bottom spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast map area — the kinds king mackerel hold on.
What to use for king mackerel
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Spanish sardinesNose-hooked and free-lined in a chum slick, or slow-trolled on a stinger rig.
- Speedos (redtail scad)Bridled through the nose on a kite or slow-trolled for sailfish, kingfish and blackfin.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–6/0
- Braid30–50 lb
Feeds in 66–82°F water, best at 68–76°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch king mackerel in The Treasure Coast?
Peak season is October–April. King mackerel are here year-round. January: Winter kings on the reef edge off Jupiter and Fort Pierce.
Where do king mackerel hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for king mackerel in The Treasure Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), threadfin herring (greenbacks), cigar minnows, menhaden (pogies). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–6/0, braid 30–50 lb.
What are the rules for king mackerel in The Treasure 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/.
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