Mackerel

Order: Perciformes (Cero, Spanish, King and Tinker Mackerel)
Family: Scombridae (Cero, Spanish, King and Tinker Mackerel)
Genus: Scomberomorus (Cero, Spanish and King Mackerel),
Scomber (Tinker Mackerel)
Species: regalis (Cero Mackerel),
maculatus (Spanish Mackerel),
cavalla (Kingfish, King Mackerel),
japonicus (Tinker Mackerel)

 

Mackerel are caught while Deep Sea Fishing Miami in offshore and inshore waters

Mackerel Characteristics:

There are several different types of fish that can be considered in the mackerel category in Miami and Miami Beach. Generally speaking, many people consider king mackerel, also known as kingfish to be the largest of the mackerel family. For the sake of this discussion we will exclude wahoo and tuna from this conversation since they will be covered separately. The mackerel that we will be referring to are: cero mackerel, spanish mackerel, tinker mackerel and king mackerel also known as kingfish. These mackerel are all similarly shaped, generally being long and lean with the exception of tinker mackerel. Mackerel have many razor sharp teeth in their mouth and care should be taken when handling them due to those razor sharp teeth. There are differences in the markings and spots on the different types of mackerel that helps in distinguishing one from the other and tinker mackerel are usually much smaller than the rest of the mackerel being discussed and they have palatine teeth. Tinker mackerel are a favorite food for many varieties of big game fish including sharks, barracuda, wahoo, sailfish and other billfish including marlin. Kingfish are famous for their leaping ability, especially when they go after live bait being fished from a fishing kite. They are known for sky rocketing baitfish and hence they have also been called ‘leaping silver kings’.

Mackerel Locations:

Mackerel are often found in inshore ocean waters however, kingfish may be found in offshore waters over coral reefs, artificial reefs, in the Gulf Stream or inshore of the Gulf Stream. Mackerel can be found in Miami, Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale on the surface or below the surface. Spanish mackerel and cero mackerel are generally thought of as surface feeding or near surface-feeding fish.

Mackerel Size / Weight Range:

There are several types of mackerel that are being discussed here and weights and sizes can vary significantly. Mackerel fishing in Miami can produce wide variations in the size and weight of different types of mackerel. Kingfish can get quite large. Reports have stated that the largest Kingfish on record is approximately five and a half feet long.

Mackerel Fighting Ability:

Excellent. Mackerel are excellent fighting fish on the appropriate type of tackle. Mackerel fishing in Miami can be a lot of fun for adults and for families with kids.

Mackerel Fishing in Miami – Fishing Techniques:

Trolling, live bait fishing, kite fishing, charter boat fishing, drift fishing, power drifting, anchor fishing, pier fishing, surf fishing (note: caution should be used when surf fishing not to wade into the water while fishing). Mackerel fishing in Miami can be a lot of fun and is probably at it’s peak during the late fall, winter and early spring. Cold fronts in the wintertime often help to improve catches because of the movement of large schools of baitfish offshore of the beaches. Kingfish frequent our South Florida waters throughout the year.

Types of Bait for Mackerel Fishing in Miami:

Live bait including: live pilchards, herring, sardines, goggle eyes, small bonito, mullet and live shrimp make good baits for mackerel fishing in Miami. Live bait sizes and types should be appropriate for the targeted type of mackerel. Fresh bait for mackerel fishing in Miami includes: ballyhoo and bonito strips. Artificial lures, spoons and jigs often work well when used on spinning rods. Small Clarke spoons also work well when casting for mackerel and #3½ Drone spoons work very well when trolled on a wire line for kingfish. Small and medium size feathers, jigs and bucktails often work well on spinning rods especially when tipped with a small bonito strip, small mackerel belly strip or pork rind strip.

Mackerel Fishing in Miami – Rods / Reels / Fishing Equipment:

Conventional fishing tackle including deep-sea fishing rods with deep-sea fishing reels, and fishing rods attached to trolling planers with spoons or baits can be effective for mackerel and kingfish fishing. Spinning rods of most types work well when fishing from piers or from boats. Bait casting reels are frequently used from piers with good success. Wire line rods with silver #3½ Drone spoons or baits may be very successful for catching kingfish and other large mackerel while trolling. Also, when trolling for smaller mackerel, small feathers or small Clarke spoons may help increase success when fished from a light conventional rod along with a small beaded chain lead. Mackerel fishing in Miami can be lots of fun on deep-sea fishing rods and reels, on spinning rods and on bait-casting rods.

Miami Fishing for Mackerel:

We fish for many different types of fish. We try to match our customer’s expectations with the types of fish that are seasonal during the time of year in which they are fishing.

Miami Fishing Charter Reservations for: Mackerel fishing in Miami – Mackerel fishing in Miami Beach – Deep Sea fishing for Mackerel in South Florida aboard the Charter Fishing Boat THERAPY-IV – Phone: 305-945-1578.

*Certain types of fish and sharks may be restricted during certain closure periods

Note: Size ranges, sizes of fish and other information, etc. may be based on our own opinions, deep sea fishing experiences, etc. We are not responsible for any information that may be in error or for any typographical errors.

Let’s go Mackerel Fishing aboard the
THERAPY-IV in luxury and style !!!
Maximum 6 passengers
Never crowded

For Reservations and Information about:
Mackerel Fishing Miami and Miami Beach Aboard THERAPY-IV
Phone: (305-945-1578)