Spanish Mackerel

Spanish mackerel are a good food fish and although they are considered large at 10 lb. (4.53 kg) some record specimens will grow to more that twice that size.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A SPANISH MACKEREL

The Spanish mackerel can be distinguished from both the cero mackerel, Scomberomorus regalis, and the king mackerel, S. cavalla, by the presence of bronze or yellow spots but no stripes, on the sides and by lack of scales on the pectoral fins. The cero, the Spanish mackerels closest look-alike in the Atlantic, has both spots and stripes of bronze and yellow on the sides, and the king mackerel has neither spots nor stripes. Both the cero and the king mackerel have scales on the pectoral fins.The anterior portion of the first dorsal fin in the Spanish mackerel is black (not true of the king mackerel), and the second dorsal fin and pectoral fins may be black tipped. The body is essentially silvery and typically mackerel-like. The back is bluish.

 

WHERE TO CATCH SPANISH MACKEREL

Occurs in the western Atlantic north to the Chesapeake Bay and occasionally to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and south to Yucatan, Mexico. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

BAITFISH PATCHES                                BIRDS

COASTAL WATERS                                  FLOATING FOAM AND DEBRIS

MAN-MADE STRUCTURES                     REEFS, WRECKS, AND SHOALS

SHORE POINTS                                       BAYS AND ESTUARIES

CHANNEL ENTRANCES                         DEEP SHORE WATER

JETTIES AND BREAKWATERS                 MERGING WATER

RIP TIDES                                                 SURF AND SHORE

 

HOW TO CATCH SPANISH MACKEREL

This is an excellent game fish that can be taken on a wide variety of lures and baits. Nylon jigs are considered on of the best lures, especially when retrieved rapidly with an occasional jerk of the rod tip to impact a darting motion to the jig. Feather lures and spoons are also successful, while minnows and live shrimp are the best natural baits. Occasionally almost any lure or bait will work, while at other times, nothing will. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

 

DRIFT FISHING                      CHUMMING       SURF CASTING

SALTWATER TROLLING       FLY FISHING     BOTTOM BOUNCING

STILL FISHING                   SALTWATER JIGGING

 

SPANISH MACKEREL LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

 

CUT BAIT                  JIGS                    SALTWATER LIVE BAIT

SPOONS               TROLLING LURES            FLIES

PLUGS                   SHRIMP                            SQUID