Waterlands

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King mackerelRetention open

Channel · Florida

East Channel

27.77°N · 80.42°W · Channel · Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 6 PM · King mackerel

81/100Great
Now
597 AM EDT
Best window
6 PM-12 AMFlood tide
Tide now
Flooding0.4 ft ▲

Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine

Notify me when East Channel scores 75+

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14-day forecast

Best days to fish

Best: Wed · 82

24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 7 AM · now

Time7ANOW
Score59Good
Tide0.4 ft ▲Flooding
Current0.0 knmodeled · toward E
Wind3 kn SSWgusts 5 · steady
Sea stateLight chop1.1 ft · 7 s
Air temp74°Warm
WeatherMostly cloudy57% cloud
Water86°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Atlantic state waters (Nassau through Miami-Dade counties)

IN EFFECT NOW

King mackerel

Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 24 in, fork length
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Hook and line and spearing only. Open year-round.

From FWC Recreational Regulations: King Mackerel, read Sep 13

Other species here

  • Atlantic croaker Retention open (50 per day)
  • Black drum Retention open (5 per day)
  • Bluefish Retention open (3 per day)
  • Bonefish Catch & release (No retention)
  • Cobia Retention open (1 per day)
  • Crevalle jack Retention open
  • Florida pompano Retention open (6 per day)
  • Gag grouper Closed (No retention)
  • Gray snapper Retention open (5 per day (10 snapper combined))
  • Gray triggerfish Retention open (10 per day)
  • Greater amberjack Retention open (1 per day)
  • Mahi-mahi Retention open (5 per day)
  • Permit Retention open (2 per day)
  • Red drum Catch & release (No retention)
  • Red grouper Retention open (3 per day (3 Atlantic grouper and tilefish combined))
  • Red snapper Check regulations
  • Sailfish Retention open (1 per day (1 billfish combined))
  • Sheepshead Retention open (8 per day)
  • Snook Retention open (1 per day)
  • Southern flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Spanish mackerel Retention open (15 per day)
  • Spot Retention open (50 per day)
  • Spotted seatrout Retention open (2 per day)
  • Summer flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Tarpon Catch & release (No retention)
  • Wahoo Retention open (2 per day)
Always check with FWC ↗Fishing license ↗

Source: FWC · synced yesterday

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When King mackerel is best here

Peak season for King mackerel · 5 more weeks at peak

King mackerel season by week of the year. Peak season for King mackerel · 5 more weeks at peak.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

King mackerel in Florida →

Spot profile

East Channel

Depth
3-4 ftFlat bottom
Structure
Channel · Inner · ProtectedChannel · flat bottom
Season
Peak seasonKing mackerel

NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 13 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.

About this spot

Fishing East Channel

East Channel is a channel in Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm, Florida. Depth is 3-4 ft, with a flat bottom. Its profile reads channel, inner water and protected.

Waterlands scores 29 species here; the best right now are Atlantic tarpon, Atlantic croaker and common snook. It is peak season now for Atlantic tarpon, Atlantic croaker, common snook and red drum, and shoulder season for black drum, weakfish, black sea bass and Spanish mackerel. Atlantic tarpon peak from July through September. Atlantic croaker peak from August through October. Common snook peak from April through May and from September through October.

Tackle & technique

King mackerel
Kings roam from beaches and pier ends out to reefs, wrecks and ledges in 40 to 200 feet, usually feeding in the upper half of the water column. Slow-troll live menhaden, blue runners or cigar minnows on a light wire stinger rig, or pull spoons and ribbonfish past bait schools. Look for clean green water above 68 F with bait and birds on it.
Atlantic tarpon
Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.
Atlantic croaker
Croaker feed on mud and sand bottom along channel edges, oyster bars, piers and deeper holes in bays and sounds, mostly in 5 to 30 feet of water. A two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and shrimp, bloodworm or squid catches them from piers, the surf and small boats. Fish the hours around high tide and into the evening.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

View all on map →
  • Michael Creek

    Bay · 1.0 mi

    65
    Top: Crevalle jackPeak season
    • Crevalle jack 65
    • Red drum 65
    • Southern flounder 65

    3 kt SSWH 9:04 AM · 0.4 ftL 4:05 PM · 0.3 ft

  • Pine Island Bay

    Bay · 1.4 mi

    65
    Top: Crevalle jackPeak season
    • Crevalle jack 65
    • Atlantic croaker 64
    • Common snook 62

    3 kt SSWH 9:04 AM · 0.4 ftL 4:05 PM · 0.3 ft

  • South Point

    Cape · 0.3 mi

    62
    Top: Common snookPeak season
    • Common snook 62
    • Atlantic tarpon 62
    • Atlantic croaker 59

    3 kt SSWH 9:04 AM · 0.4 ftL 4:05 PM · 0.3 ft

  • Duck Point

    Cape · 1.5 mi

    62
    Top: Common snookPeak season
    • Common snook 62
    • Atlantic tarpon 62
    • Atlantic croaker 59

    3 kt SSWH 9:04 AM · 0.4 ftL 4:05 PM · 0.3 ft

Open in the tide map

Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with FWC before you keep a fish.