Waterlands

Species guide · North Carolina

Spanish mackerel fishing in North Carolina

Scomberomorus maculatus, a nearshore species also called spanish, spanish mack and spaniard. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Off season, about 16 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Albemarle Sound at 35, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Off season
Where it's scoring nowAll North Carolina waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

South Atlantic

Off season, about 16 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Shoulder season
  4. Apr: Peak season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Shoulder season
  8. Aug: Shoulder season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Off season
  12. Dec: Off season

Peak: Apr to Jun. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Oct.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

NOAA: fish reach North Carolina by early April and spawn April to September off North Carolina and Virginia. Northeast Florida and Georgia fish best in spring and fall; the Carolinas hold them all summer.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 9

North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's spanish mackerel score this hour.

1
35Fair
Albemarle Sound

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 21 named spots

2
35Fair
Alligator River

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 26 named spots

3
35Fair
Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 7 named spots

4
35Fair
Coastal waters from Surf City to Cape Fear NC out 20 nm

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 1 named spot

5
35Fair
Croatan and Roanoke Sounds

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 49 named spots

6
35Fair
Currituck Sound

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 75 named spots

7
35Fair
Neuse and Bay Rivers

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 260 named spots

8
35Fair
Pamlico and Pungo Rivers

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 134 named spots

9
35Fair
Pamlico Sound

Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35) · 331 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

NCDMF saltwater regulations Buy a North Carolina fishing license License types

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Nov 4, 2026.

No reviewed spanish mackerel rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.

Other North Carolina species