Species guide · Virginia
Spanish mackerel fishing in Virginia
Scomberomorus maculatus, a nearshore species also called spanish, spanish mack and spaniard. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in James River from JRB to HRBT, Including the Elizabeth River at 77, one of 10 Virginia bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Mid-Atlantic
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Oct.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
Arrive in the Chesapeake in late May and June; Maryland DNR lists peak catches August through October, first at the bay mouth and later in the middle bay. Occasional off New Jersey and New York in late summer.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 10
Virginia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's spanish mackerel score this hour.
Best window today 6-8 AM (80) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (80) · 32 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (79) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (79) · 89 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (77) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (77) · 135 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (78) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (78) · 45 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (73) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (73) · 15 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (76) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (76) · 33 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (75) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (75) · 24 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (74) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (74) · 4 named spots
Best window today 2-9 PM (73) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 5 PM (76) · 99 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (70) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 6 PM (72) · 25 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
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed spanish mackerel rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.