UTERSpanish mackerel fishing in Tampa Bay
In Tampa Bay, Spanish mackerel peak April–May and October–November and are around March–December, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Peak spring in the bay.
Fall: back in the bay with the bait.
Spanish mackerel in Tampa Bay, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArrivingSpanish flood the bay on the bait — the Skyway, the shipping channel and the pass mouths.
- AprilPeakPeak spring in the bay.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingSnook reopens; reds school up; the bait run starts. Schooling reds on the flats and bars, snook back on the mangroves as harvest reopens, Spanish return with the bait. Tarpon still on the beach.
- OctoberPeakFall: back in the bay with the bait.
- NovemberPeakPeak fall.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish Spanish mackerel near Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa
Florida's biggest open-water estuary, ringed with grass flats, mangrove islands, oyster bars and the Skyway's endless pilings, then the barrier-island passes — Johns, Pass-a-Grille, Longboat, New Pass, Big Sarasota, Venice — and a dense field of artificial reefs a few miles off the beach.
Fish Scouter charts 521 artificial reef, 267 marker / buoy, 46 pass / inlet, 34 beach / surf spots in the Tampa Bay & Sarasota 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 Tampa Bay?
Peak season is April–May and October–November. Spanish mackerel are in Tampa Bay March–December. April: Peak spring in the bay.
Where do Spanish mackerel hold in Tampa Bay?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel in Tampa Bay?
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 Tampa Bay?
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
Fish Scouter scores Spanish mackerel for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about Spanish mackerel · Tampa Bay & Sarasota, the whole year