Species guide · Texas
Spanish mackerel fishing in Texas
Scomberomorus maculatus, a nearshore species also called spanish, spanish mack and spaniard. Listed for the Western Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Copano, Aransas, and Redfish Bays at 63, one of 9 Texas 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 6 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 · 9
Texas bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's spanish mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 4-9 PM (64) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (65) · 61 named spots
Best window today 4-8 PM (60) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 6 PM (65) · 37 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (59) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (63) · 97 named spots
Best window today 6-10 PM (65) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (70) · 8 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (62) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (62) · 54 named spots
Best window today 5-10 PM (57) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (62) · 51 named spots
Best window today 4-9 PM (50) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 PM (55) · 14 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (52) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (61) · 5 named spots
Best window today 5-10 PM (50) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (59) · 2 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
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Synced with TPWD Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
15 per day · Minimum 12 in, fork length
Season: No closed season on file
50 CFR part 622, subpart Q (coastal migratory pelagics) · verified Sep 13, 2026
15 per day · 30 in possession · Minimum 14 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
The possession limit is double the daily bag and does not count fish stored at your residence. While fishing, you may not hold more than the daily bag.
TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, Mackerel Bag & Length Limits · verified Sep 13, 2026