Species guide · Louisiana
Spanish mackerel fishing in Louisiana
Scomberomorus maculatus, a nearshore species also called spanish, spanish mack and spaniard. Listed for the Western Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Lake Borgne at 63, one of 12 Louisiana bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Western Gulf
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Oct.
Research notes, Western Gulf region
NOAA: Gulf fish move west of Cape San Blas in spring and stay in the northern Gulf until September before heading south. Texas and Louisiana jetties, nearshore rigs and beachfront are the main spots.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 12
Louisiana bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's spanish mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 4-9 PM (67) · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 5 PM (67) · 11 named spots
Best window today 4-7 PM (65) · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 5 PM (65) · 173 named spots
Best window today 4-7 PM (63) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 7 AM (66) · 70 named spots
Best window today 4-8 PM (63) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 5 PM (67) · 125 named spots
Best window today 4-6 PM (63) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (70) · 13 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (59) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 7 AM (64) · 170 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (58) · Best day Mon, Oct 5 at 8 AM (59) · 5 named spots
Best window today 4 PM-12 AM (54) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (68) · 30 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (55) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (63) · 15 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (55) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (57) · 9 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (41) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM (45) · 3 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 68°F to 90°F, best between 72°F and 84°F.
- Water depth
- 5 to 50 ft of water.
- Structure
- Inlet, rip, pass, jetty, pier, beach and shoal, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.Spanish feed where current pushes bait against structure or along tide rips at inlets and passes. Clean incoming water at an inlet is often best. Slack water scatters the schools.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 4 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Spanish mackerel school along beaches and around inlets, jetties, piers and bridge-tunnel structures, and along tide rips in 5 to 40 feet of water once the water climbs above about 68 degrees F. Troll small spoons or cast metal jigs and retrieve fast, or look for birds diving on bait and cast into the school. FWC calls for a 30 to 60 pound monofilament leader because their teeth cut light line.
- Methods
- trolling, casting to surface schools, pier fishing, live bait
- Lures
- small trolling spoon (Clark or Drone), Gotcha plug, metal jig, small bucktail or duster, planer and spoon
- Bait
- live glass minnows, pilchard, finger mullet, shrimp
Regulations
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Not synced yet, last verified Sep 13, 2026.
No reviewed spanish mackerel rule for Louisiana is on file yet. Check with LDWF before you keep one.