UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, Spanish mackerel peak May–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Tide lines at the sound mouths; troll small spoons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Spanish mackerel in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArrivingSpanish arrive on the beaches and the sound mouths.
- MayPeakPeak cobia and beach tripletail. Live eels or menhaden for cobia in St. Simons and Wassaw sounds.
- JunePeakTarpon arrive; Spanish on the tide lines. Troll small spoons at the sound mouths; first tarpon on the pogy schools.
- JulyPeakTide lines at the sound mouths; troll small spoons.
- AugustPeakPrime tarpon month in the Golden Isles. St. Simons and St. Andrew sounds and off Jekyll; flood-tide tailing reds.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 338 artificial reef, 180 marker / buoy, 1 beach / surf spots in the The Golden Isles 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 Georgia Coast?
Peak season is May–September. Spanish mackerel are in Georgia Coast April–October. July: Tide lines at the sound mouths; troll small spoons.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Georgia 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 Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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