Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus
0 of 4worth the trip today
Best right now at Surfside Beach, South Carolina. Water is inside the 65–82° range Spanish mackerel like at 1 of the 4 spots with a live reading.
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About Spanish mackerel
Fast-running summer migrant of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts that travels in schools with the warm water. Targeted by casting small metal jigs into busting fish, or trolling small spoons behind planers. Wire leaders are not required — long-shank hooks and fluorocarbon work.
Around the Chesapeake. Runs the lower Chesapeake and the VA Atlantic coast from late June through September. Kastmaster or Hopkins jigs into breaking fish, or #1-#2 Clark spoons behind planers at 6-8 knots.
Scomberomorus maculatus, family Scombridae.
Spanish mackerel, spot by spot
All 4 spots with Spanish mackerel in season, scored for Spanish mackerel, best first.
67° water · 15 mph wind · incoming tide
61° water · 8 mph wind · incoming tide
The water they want
Spanish mackerel feed from about 65° to 82°F and best near 74°. Each pin is one spot’s water right now, from NOAA and USGS gauges; 1 of 4 are inside the range.
How they feed
- Water65–82°F, best near 74°
- TideIncoming
- MoonEither
- DepthUsually 5–40 ft
Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works
Season by state
- VirginiaJun–Sep
- South CarolinaMay–Oct
The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia months are the Chesapeake-region season. Everywhere else it is carried over by water temperature: a month counts at a spot when its usual water is in the range that marks the mid-Atlantic season (70°F and warmer), from the spot’s own gauge where it has one and an estimate from air temperature where it doesn’t. Each state lists the months that hold at half or more of its spots. Where the water temperatures come from.
Keep or release
- South Carolina12" minimum · 15 a daySouth Carolina saltwater: 12" fork-length minimum, 15/person/day, year-round.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Virginia tidal (VMRC)14" minimum · 15 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 14" minimum (total length), 15 a day, open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Virginia tidal (VMRC)14" minimum · 15 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 14" minimum (total length), 15 a day, open all year.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Spanish mackerel are fished at spots in 2 states: South Carolina, Virginia.
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