Damn Good Spanish Mackerel Fishing Charters

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“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Spanish Mackerel Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty, Flats in Naples

I'll Be Your Capt'n

100% (11)
24 ft 1 - 5 People From $550
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Pensacola

Bay Fishing Bonanza

100% (23)
25 ft 1 - 5 People From $500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Bradenton

Kids And Family Fun Charter

100% (2)
31 ft 1 - 6 People From $500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Bradenton

Active Duty & Veteran Discount Trip

100% (2)
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Flats in Marathon

Half Day (4hr)

100% (1)
27 ft 1 - 8 People From $800
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Jetty, River, Flats in Saint George Island

Bay & Flats Inshore Fishing Charter

NEW
25 ft 1 - 12 People From $495
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Everything to Know About Booking a spanish mackerel fishing charter

What are the best spanish mackerel fishing charters?

Why should I book a spanish mackerel fishing charter with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 629 spanish mackerel trips, and the most popular trips are Day trips guided by , SPRING 64’ Private Fishing Charter guided by , and 4-8 Hour Fishing Trip guided by .

Our guides are rated a 4.86 out of 5 based on 4132 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly spanish mackerel guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly spanish mackerel guides.

What types of spanish mackerel fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing for spanish mackerel as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, bottom fishing, and trolling but live bait fishing and artificial lure fishing are popular as well.

How much do spanish mackerel fishing charters cost?

Prices for spanish mackerel can range anywhere from about $575 to $3,612, but the average price for a half day trip for spanish mackerel is $1,093. The average price for a full day trip for spanish mackerel is $2,326.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

What month is best for spanish mackerel fishing?

The most popular season for spanish mackerel fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 19 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for spanish mackerel and what are the bag limits for spanish mackerel?

See here for more information on spanish mackerel fishing licenses, spanish mackerel bag limits, and fishing season regulations for spanish mackerel. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right spanish mackerel rules and regulations.

What is a Spanish Mackerel?

Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) are saltwater fish, found in the Atlantic ocean. They have a green back, silver sides with three rows of yellow spots on both sides and sharp jaws. These spots help to separate them from the cero and king mackerel, who otherwise look very similar.

They are strong swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 18 feet per second, for stretches of up to 20 miles. Built for speed with their bullet-shaped bodies, be ready for an energetic fight once you have one hooked. Thanks to conservation efforts after overfishing in the 1980s, starting the fight will be a much easier feat now that the species has been brought back from the brink!

How big do Spanish Mackerel get?

Not typically regarded as a bragging rights fish, spanish mackerel are typically between two and six pounds. Those that grow larger than ten pounds are considered large. They are usually at their full size at five years for males, and six years for females.

What's the biggest Spanish Mackerel ever caught?

On November 4th, 1987, Robert Cranton caught the International Game Fish Association world record for spanish mackerel. Weighing in at a solid 13 pounds, this beast was caught out of Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina, and has yet to be officially beat.

Where is the best place to catch Spanish Mackerel?

Spanish mackerel are a shallow water species, staying in depths of 10 to 40 feet, however can occasionally be found as deep as 80 feet. They can be found as far south as the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, and as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Some of the most highly regarded areas to fish for spanish mackerel are Miami and the Keys in Florida, and also the northern Texas coast.

When should I catch Spanish Mackerel?

Spanish mackerel are migratory fish who follow rising water temperatures. Due to this, it is important to follow their pattern and target them according to where they are along their route during season changes.

The Gulf of Mexico tends to be the best from May to September, whereas in the Atlantic, you can find them travelling north up the United States coast line in the spring summer, and then head down south towards Cancun for the fall and winter.

How do you catch Spanish Mackerel?

There are several spots to look for spanish mackerel depending on how deep of water you are targeting them in. For offshore and nearshore, look for structures that they may school around, while inshore check the surfs, flats, piers, and jetties.

They tend to feed in large schools near the surface, so another convenient way to find them is by watching for water commotion as well as bird activity.

Spanish mackerel can be caught with many different lures and baits. Nylon jigs, feather lures and spoons work great for artificial, while minnows and live shrimp work great for natural bait. They can be used while trolling or drift fishing, or just casting off the pier.

Are Spanish Mackerel good to eat? What are the best Spanish Mackerel recipes?

Spanish mackerel are a very popular white fish, and is best eaten fresh. There are many ways to prepare mackerel, whether you broil, fry, bake, or even smoke them. However, the most popular way to enjoy spanish mackerel is in sushi! At many sushi restaurants, you will find it under the name sawara.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Great Charter with Captain Larry! It was a slower time of year with a few species in season but he got us on some fish! We had a great time. Looking forward to booking again this summer!

    Samuel S. | March 5, 2025

    Trip: Half Day Nearshore Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    First trip and will do it again. Captin Hank put us on the fish and kept the ky music playing.

    Lee M. | March 3, 2025

    Trip: 4-8 Hour Fishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Paul and his first mate were awesome! We came to catch a sailfish and they made it happen!

    Bill B. | February 13, 2025

    Trip: Ultimate Offshore Thrills

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Hank was a wonderful addition to our trip! He was smart, funny and a great conversationalist. The fishing was slow but we knew that with the pre day conversation of wind and murky water. We caught an array of different species including a bonnet head shark. Thanks for making memories with us Hank! See you next trip down from Canada!

    Kelly M. | February 13, 2025

    Trip: 4-8 Hour Fishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great day on the water with Captain Hank and his son. Fishing was excellent. Would definitely recommend Captain Hank for a day of fishing.

    Thomas H. | January 7, 2025

    Trip: 4-8 Hour Fishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great time for some first timers! Tyler and Allen were awesome with their instruction and knowledge about the sport. We will be back!!

    Stephanie R. | November 28, 2024

    Trip: Fishing with Capt Tyler 4-12hrs!

  • ★★★★★
    Brandon was great! Having grown up in the area, he really knows his stuff and found us some great fishing spots. Also, he took great care and showed wonderful patience with our seven year old grandson (who had a blast fishing). I highly recommend Brandon as your boat captain and guide.

    James E. | November 27, 2024

    Trip: Naples Hook-Up

  • ★★★★★
    Johnny and JT were great! Winter fishing is tough but we all had a great time! I would definitely book a trip with Johnny again!

    Carmel B. | November 26, 2024

    Trip: Alabama Inshore Magic

  • ★★★★★
    My husband and son had a great time with Blake. There were definitely enough fish biting to keep my son's attention for the 4 hour trip.

    Andrea M. | October 21, 2024

    Trip: Galveston Bay Trophy Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    We had two boats and both caught 70+ lb tarpon. Everyone had action. Great trip!

    John D. | September 23, 2024

    Trip: Tarpon and Snook Smash! - 16'

  • ★★★★★
    Nathan was great as our captain. Took us right to the fish!

    Stephen M. | September 20, 2024

    Trip: PCB Reefs and Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    Hey Captain Experiences! Captain Eddie and Fisher are a great crew. Captain Eddie did his best to get us on fish and he did, we just had trouble with the dolphins stealing our bait. As much as the dolphins are cute and cool to see, they can be annoying to say the least. Fisher was very informative, not only about fish and dolphins, but also about how weather and moon cycles play out into catching fish as well. The boat is a very nice 55 for boat. Very clean and in top notch condition for the year! We recommend Captain Eddie and Fisher very highly. When we come back to Gulf shores, we will be calling on Captain Experiences, Captain Eddie and Fisher. We feel we have made two new friends. Thanks for the great and fun time guys. Bill

    William H. | September 18, 2024

    Trip: 6-Hour Bottom/Trolling - 55' Gillman

  • ★★★★★
    Chris & Will were great. Knowledgeable, professional, engaging and put us on the fish. Would highly recommend this charter.

    Doug B. | September 11, 2024

    Trip: Key West Sportfish Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip with a great captain! We had a blast!

    Kristie B. | September 9, 2024

    Trip: Gulf Shores Hook-Up

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome trip, would recommend without hesitation!

    Steven B. | August 31, 2024

    Trip: Islamorada Live Action Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    100% recommend this charter! Captain is very knowledgable and has just as much fun as you do. You get to take home your fillets and enjoy your hard earned catch. We will be returning in the future.

    Krystal P. | August 21, 2024

    Trip: Orange Beach Half-Day Hookup

  • ★★★★★
    Enjoyed the experience!

    Amanda M. | August 18, 2024

    Trip: 4 Hrs Inshore with Capt. Hunter

  • ★★★★★
    CPT Johnny was an awesome guy and he worked his tail off to make sure we caught some fish! He’s a fellow veteran and has a great sense of humor. I look forward to fishing with him again! Thanks Brother!

    Danny B. | August 14, 2024

    Trip: Alabama Inshore Magic

  • ★★★★★
    Lynn and Hayden were awesome! They were both friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and well equipped. The boat was clean and comfortable. And best of all the fish were plentiful! Thank you!

    Kristin B. | August 4, 2024

    Trip: Alabama Reds and More

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Zack and Jackson were great. Knowledgeable and friendly. Looking forward to next fishing trip.

    Van E. | August 2, 2024

    Trip: 6-Hour Bottomfishing & Trolling

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