After a long winter awaiting the
return of the migratory summer species, March has come and rumors drift
in-"the spanish are hitting in the bay!!". The air is still
chilly in the morning, water temperatures have creeped into the high 60's
(F) range and the first harbingers of the migratory fishes have arrived
for their inshore spawning run, feasting on the bristling schools of menhaden
(also coming inshore after plankton)--Spanish
Mackerel. While the smaller spanish mackerel head into the upper
reaches of the bay, the larger spanish (16"+) only come into the passes
and only on the incoming tide. However, when they come in, they are mean!
Due to a quirk of geography and traffic, the Destin Harbor sits very near
the Gulf of Mexico, and has a choke point where it enters the pass. 
This
choke point witnesses a very high volume of boat traffic, and unfortunately
for those menhaden discussed earlier, the boat props of all those boat
mulch and maim the closely packed schools of bait. Meanwhile, lurking
under the menhaden mulch, those large Spanish wait for those injured menhaden
for a quick meal. The result if this carnage is drifting slick of
blood punctuated by boils of toothy mackerel, right in the midst of the
harbor entrance. For an enterprising angler, any place that allows
a cast between the boats into the harbor entrance is the place to be.
Armed with several floating plugs or crankbaits in the 4" to 6" range,
50# mono leaders, and a 8lb class spinning reel, an angler can experience
a few hours of unmitigated violence, and return home with a few very tasty
Spanish Mackerel.
As the plugs are tossed into the fray (look for brown froth, birds, and
boiling fish), the need to be twitch violently to simulate an injured minnow.
As you jerk the plug near the surface, be prepared for the water to explode
under it, and wait to feel the line tighten before setting the hook.
Setting the hook by sight will only set you up for disappointment.
Make sure you drag is set fairly light, as these mackerel will make one
or two blistering runs before coming in. Use a pliers to remove the
hooks and exercise great caution, as every mackerel will bite and shake,
and a treble hook is a bear to remove (I know this from experience!). While
the tide comes in the action will be feast and famine- 15 minutes
of action, 30 minutes of boredom, and another 15 minutes of action, as
the schools of bait move in and out of the harbor entrance. Pack
lots of plugs, as they will be toothed and broken before the peak action
is over, and many will loose their plastic lips. This first
action of the spring is unforgettable, and will definitely get you ready
for the summer to come!
NOTE: You can also get Spanish Mackerel in these spots too: End of the Grass Flat as the pass enters the bay, Off the beach past the third sand bar, off the Jetties, off the Shalimar Bridge, and off any ocean pier.
 |
|
| Get your Combat-Fishing Stuff Here! |
Spoons also work, including speed type jigs (3",1oz to 2 oz see the little ones), kastmasters (1oz), bucktail and marabou crappie jigs (2" to 4"), slab spoons, etc. especially off piers and bridges and for slow trolling.
and fatheads like so
and sometimes large poppers, 8lb to 14lb tippet with 18 inches of 25lb to 50lb florocarbon shock leader. STrip very fast.
Any
item that even looks remotely edible (like a swivel slashing through the
water) will be annihilated by Spanish that will follow any hooked
Spanish to the boat or shoreline.
Here are the core spots to look for spanish mackerel in the spring (note look for the same structures and current anywhere in the Atlantic or Gulf when Spanish Mackerel are around):
 Atlantic Spanish Mackerel |
 Crevalle Jack |
 King Mackerel |
 Blue Runner aka Hardtail |
 Bluefish |
 Cobia |
 Ladyfish |
 Inshore Lizardfish |
 Blacktip Shark |
|
|
| Get your Combat-Fishing Stuff Here! |
All Content, Images, Text Copyright © 1994 to 2014 and beyond Bryce L. Meyer Combat-Fishing.com. Trademarks are properties of their respective owners, Combat-Fishing® and the Fish and pole logos are trademarks of Bryce L. Meyer.
