How to catch Cero mackerel in Florida

Cero mackerel feed in 70–88°F water and bite best at 74–84°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 2 waters.

20 pts · trophy at 26"Feeds 70–88°FBest 74–84°FIn season nowArtificial reefPass / inletMarker / buoyBeach / surf

About

The Spanish mackerel's prettier South Florida cousin: a gold stripe down the side over the spots, on the patch reefs and edges of the Keys and Biscayne all year.

How to fish it

Free-line a pilchard in a chum slick on the patch reefs; a short wire trace or a long-shank hook. They come to the boat in numbers.

What it eats

live pilchardssmall jigsspoonssilversides in the chum

Live bait for it

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.

Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.

What to fish it with

the sizes that fish it

Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon

Hook#1–4/0

Jig head1/8–1/2 oz

Braid10–30 lb

The rule

not confirmed here

Managed with the mackerels; minimum size and bag limit apply — confirm at MyFWC.

The current rule at MyFWC →

Where it is, month by month

PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving

Florida

The Florida Keys

Miami & Biscayne Bay

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