Spring Spanish Mackerel: Best Lures, Spots, Positioning, And More
- By: Wyatt Parcel
- on
Spring has sprung!
And the Spanish mackerel are chewing…
There’s a ton of action at the piers and jetties right now as they start to migrate.
If you want to catch more Spanish mackerel this spring, then you’re going to love this video!
You’ll to learn:
- The best spots to catch loads of Spanish mackerel right now
- How to position yourself and your lure to catch more Spanish mackerel
- My favorite lures for the spring migration
- And much more
Check it out below!
Spring Spanish Mackerel [VIDEO]
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Here are my favorite lures and leader line for Spanish mackerel:
Where & When To Find Spanish Mackerel
Spring and fall are typically the best two times of the year to find these feisty fish.
They are a migratory species so, in the spring and summer, they are moving north seeking out cooler water.
In the fall and winter, Spanish mackerel are headed south to find warmer water and chase the baitfish.
The piers and jetties are the best spots to be in the spring if you want to get on big numbers of Spanish mackerel.
How To Position Yourself
During the springtime, I prefer to fish the south-facing side of the jetty knowing that I’ll be intercepting the fish as they migrate north.
I find that it’s more productive because you can work your lure with the movement of the schools of fish.
Lures & Line
Spanish mackerel love anything shiny.
Chrome and gold spoons that dart quickly through the water are going to be a key target for these fish.
I like to work my spoons with a constant retrieve and they’re also great because you can cast them a mile.
The other lure that really produces for Spanish mackerel during spring is the Gotcha Plug.
You can cover a lot of water with this lure and it’s the perfect profile and color for this time of year.
One common misconception is that you MUST use wire leader with Spanish mackerel, but that is absolutely not true!
You can use a heavy monofilament leader that will hold up, allows you to change out lures easier, and has better movement through the water.
I’m using Ande Premium Monofilament Leader in forty to fifty pound test and it’s working great to land these fish.
Conclusion
Spanish mackerel are often overlooked by fishermen but they are a ton of fun to catch (and quite tasty!)
If you’re looking to get into them (and in numbers) during the spring migration, you’ll need a solid set-up, and here are my go-to lures and leader line:
Do you like catching Spanish mackerel?
Want more tips to catch these fish?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you know someone who’s excited to get on Spanish mackerel this spring, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Related articles:
- 5 SALTWATER FISHING LURES THAT WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
- TOP 5 FISHING LURES TO CATCH SPRING INSHORE SLAMS
- WHICH SIDE OF THE PIER SHOULD YOU FISH ON? (FOR SPANISH MACKEREL)
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What type of knot do you use on that heavy mono leader?
Can you please tell me what kind of rod you’re using. Thank you
The rod I used on the pier is a 7’6” Medium Redbone Inshore Special, which I believe is now discounted, but the red and black one is a 7’10” Medium Heavy custom rod I had specifically built for jetty fishing by Black Pelican Customs.
In lieu of wire for macks I put a 1″ piece of clear drinking straw on my line before I tie my jig on. The straw sits atop my swivel and split ring and prevents most Macks from biting through my 30 lb. mono line.
I’ve seen this done before and it definitely works well! Thanks for the suggestion Roy!
My go to lure for Spanish Mackerel, since I started fishing for mackerel in 1955 has been the 1/2 oz and the 3/4 oz Johnson Silver Spoon,
Caught many mackerel fishing with a tar hand line, wire leader and the 1/2 oz Johnson silver spoon trolling from a flat bottomed wooden row boat,
powered by a 2 1/2 HP Sears Roebuck Elgin kicker.
I have used it successfully in the Tampa Bay Area, Alabama and Hawaii.
Wayne J Fernandez, Capt USN Retired.
Awesome intel Capt. Wayne! Those spoons sure put in some work on the Macks.
Thanks you all for the info and for increasing my odds of limiting out. Tight Lines!!!
Absolutely Mark! Glad you found this tip helpful sir!
We caught some nice Spanish Mackeral in the bay 10 days ago on the slam shady. Fished around the big piers close to the shipping channel. Gonna give this try tomorrow with spoons, shady’s gotcha plugs and I bit heavier leader. Got cleaned off a few times on the last outing
Slam Shady definitely will work great to attract a bite from Mackerel, as you saw, their forage looks almost identical to it! The only downside is you’ll burn through lures like nobody’s business because their sharp teeth will tear them apart quickly!
Mackerel cooking tip: To eliminate the “fishy” taste, cut out the blood line (dark strip down the middle of the filets).
100% ! Mackerel make fantastic sandwiches, but I ALWAYS cut the bloodline as well. Throw a little Everglades seasoning on there and you’re SET!
Wyatt,
Great video……but if you want to catch citation size spanish (5 lbs plus), the big females will not hit artificial lures. You’ll need to slow troll a live bait…either large finger mullet or small to medium size pogie…..and only use gold treble hooks. Also, put the rods in the t-top holders, and keep the baits less than 30 feet behind the boat, so the line runs straight to the fish, and stays out of the water. They have great eyesight and are easily spooked. Another trick I learned is if you mark fish but they won’t bite, bounce a few baits off the motor into the water. It stuns them enough that they don’t scoot straight to the bottom, and will often get the fish excited and start feeding.
Solid tips Tom! I often am just going for numbers and will use artificials, but I have a passion for targeting high quality fish… sounds like I’ll have to get my hands on some pogies for next trip out!
Right to the point! As usual great information. You guys are making me a better salt angler little by little. NTB, NC.
Awesome!! Glad you found this tip helpful Arthur!!
How far inshore do the Spanish make it? I caught one in Swanquarter last year here in NC and was wondering if that was a fluke or if they actually come this far into the sound.
I see them jump in the NC intercoastal all the time between the Surf City highrise and the s curves.
Some schools seem to get lost and run into the intercostal, but I wouldn’t try to plan a trip around it. It’s more of a chance thing but it does happen often, but with no real patterns.