UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in The Treasure Coast
In The Treasure Coast, Spanish mackerel peak November–March and are around October–May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Winter Spanish off Jupiter, Stuart and Fort Pierce — the beaches and inlets on the glass minnows.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in The Treasure Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter Spanish off Jupiter, Stuart and Fort Pierce — the beaches and inlets on the glass minnows.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeakBig spring Spanish in the inlets before they head north.
- AprilLeavingSnook and tarpon at the inlets; kings on the reef. Inlet snook on the outgoing, tarpon in the inlets and along the beach, kings on the reef edge. Trout on the lagoon flats at dawn.
- MayAround
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustNot here
- SeptemberNot hereThe mullet run — snook reopens, the beaches explode. Snook harvest reopens the 1st into the best beach fishing of the year: snook, tarpon, jacks and bluefish on the mullet along the surf and in the inlets.
- OctoberArriving
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish Spanish 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 842 marker / buoy, 442 artificial reef, 48 beach / surf, 7 pass / inlet spots in the Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast 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 Treasure Coast?
Peak season is November–March. Spanish mackerel are in The Treasure Coast October–May. January: Winter Spanish off Jupiter, Stuart and Fort Pierce — the beaches and inlets on the glass minnows.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in The Treasure Coast?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Boca Raton, Jupiter, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in The Treasure 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 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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