UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Florida's Big Bend
In Florida's Big Bend, Spanish mackerel peak April–May and September–October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: On the outside grass and the channel markers.
Fall fish on the outside edges.
Spanish mackerel in Florida's Big Bend, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingSpanish arrive on the outside edges of the flats.
- AprilPeakOn the outside grass and the channel markers.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeakThe reds school up big; snook open; gags still on the rocks. September is redfish month — schools of a hundred on the outside bars and creek mouths. Snook season opens in the rivers.
- OctoberPeakFall fish on the outside edges.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River
A hundred miles of undeveloped coast: vast turtle-grass flats, limestone rock piles and ledges in ten feet of clear water, spring-fed rivers, oyster bars and salt marsh. No passes, no barrier islands — the Gulf just starts.
Fish Scouter charts 336 artificial reef, 230 marker / buoy, 95 pass / inlet, 2 beach / surf spots in the The Big Bend & Nature 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 Florida's Big Bend?
Peak season is April–May and September–October. Spanish mackerel are in Florida's Big Bend March–November. April: On the outside grass and the channel markers.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Florida's Big Bend?
Look on artificial reef — around Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Florida's Big Bend?
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 Florida's Big Bend?
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
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