Spanish Mackerel in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor

Fast retrieved spoons, Gotcha plugs and jigs around bait schools, piers, passes and nearshore reefs.

Next seven days

Day	Bite	Why
Fri, Oct 30	9	Strong tide swing 2.5 ft
Sat, Oct 31	9	Strong tide swing 2.3 ft
Sun, Nov 1	5	Rain likely 85%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky
Mon, Nov 2	6	Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky
Tue, Nov 3	6
Wed, Nov 4	6	Light wind
Thu, Nov 5	6

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Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 68–82°F.

Applies to: Gulf and Atlantic State Waters

Species / zone	Season	Size	Bag	Notes
Spanish Mackerel Statewide	open now Open year-round	12" fork length	15 per harvester	Legal Gear: beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line, spear

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is hosting a series of port meetings along the Atlantic coast to take a focused look at the commercial and recreational king and Spanish mackerel fisheries. Input gathered during these port meetings will directly affect future management efforts for king and Spanish mackerel.

Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.