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Spanish Mackerel fishing in Pinellas County

27 rated shore spots in Pinellas County hold spanish mackerel — ranked below with today's live forecast score for the species.

Spanish Mackerel forecast map for Pinellas County

Every spot colored by how it fishes for spanish mackerel right now. Scrub the timeline, tap a pin for its forecast, or go full screen.

When to go

In season now
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🌊 Fish the flood tide.

Size, bag and season rules in Pinellas County

Open: keep up to 15 a day of 12 in or more

Pinellas County

Rules set by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Minimum size
12 inMeasured nose to the fork of the tail
Bag limit
15 a day

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · checked Sep 30, 2026

A summary of the rules these authorities publish for anglers, checked on the dates shown. It is not legal advice: the authority's own page is the rule, and rules can change.

Check FWC rules

Best spanish mackerel spots in Pinellas County

1Skyway Fishing Pier (North)Good · 72HotspotSpring and fall runs pack the pier; spoons, Gotcha plugs or live whitebait on light wire, fished on the moving tide in clean green water.2Fort De Soto Gulf PierGood · 69HotspotSpring and fall runs off the end; small spoons, Gotcha plugs or whitebait when the tide brings clean water.3St. Pete Pier Fishing DeckGood · 73HotspotSpring through fall when bait schools pass the end of the deck. Small spoons and gotcha plugs retrieved fast.4Pier 60Good · 75HotspotSpring and fall from the T end; small spoons, Gotcha plugs or a free-lined whitebait when the water is clean and green.5John's PassExcellent · 81ReliableSpring and fall at the mouth when clean water pushes in; spoons or Gotcha plugs worked fast.6Fort De Soto North BeachGood · 69ReliableSpring and fall when bait runs the beach; a small silver spoon on a short bite leader.7Honeymoon Island State ParkGood · 75ReliableSpring and fall when bait runs close to the beach; small spoons.8Blind Pass Jetty (Upham Beach)Good · 78ReliableSpring and fall at the pass mouth when bait moves; small spoons.9Pass-a-Grille JettyGood · 75ReliableSpring and fall when bait schools move through the channel; small spoons thrown to breaking fish.10Dunedin CausewayGood · 75ReliableSpring and fall in the bridge channels; small spoons when birds are diving.11Fort De Soto Bay PierGood · 70ReliableSpring and fall when bait moves into the bay; small spoons.12Williams Pier, GulfportFair · 62ReliableSpring and fall runs when clean water pushes into the bay; small spoons cast and cranked fast on a short bite leader.13Fort De Soto East BeachGood · 70ReliableSpring and fall along the drop-off when bait is in; small spoons on a short bite leader.14Sunset Beach, Treasure IslandGood · 78ReliableSpring and fall when bait pushes along the beach; small spoons on a short bite leader.15Gulf Front Park, Treasure IslandExcellent · 81ReliableSpring and fall when bait comes inshore; a small silver spoon on a short bite leader thrown to diving birds.1612th Avenue Park, Indian Rocks BeachGood · 65ReliableSpring and fall when bait comes close to the beach; a small spoon on a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon bite leader.17193rd Avenue Beach Access, Indian ShoresFair · 64ReliableSpring and fall when bait comes close; a small spoon on a short bite leader.18Fred Howard ParkGood · 76Worth a trySpring and fall off the island ends when bait is close; small spoons.19Anclote Key Preserve State ParkGood · 66Worth a trySpring and fall when bait schools pass the islands; small silver spoons.20Maximo ParkFair · 62Worth a trySpring and fall when bait moves between the bays; small spoons on a short bite leader.21Merry PierGood · 75Worth a trySpring and fall when bait moves through the channel; small spoons on a short bite leader.22Belleair Causeway Fishing PierFair · 62Worth a trySpring and fall when bait runs through the channel; small spoons.23Caladesi Island State ParkGood · 75Worth a trySpring and fall when bait runs close to the beach; small spoons.24Gandy Beach and CausewayGood · 73Worth a trySpring and fall when bait moves near the bridge channel.25Sunset Beach, Tarpon SpringsGood · 76Worth a trySpring and fall when bait comes within casting range.
Plus 2 more rated spots in Pinellas CountyOpen the full map

Tactics for spanish mackerel

Top baits, best first

  1. Silver Casting Spoon
  2. Gotcha Plug
  3. Pilchards (Scaled Sardines)
  4. Clouser Minnow

Rigs that work, best first

  1. Freeline Live Bait
  2. Tandem Bucktail Rig
  3. Slip Float Rig

Spanish Mackerel fishing elsewhere

Escambia CountyLee CountyPalm Beach CountySarasota CountyBrevard CountyBay CountyCollier CountyOkaloosa CountyFranklin CountyWalton CountyGulf CountySt. Johns CountySt. Lucie CountyManatee CountyBroward CountyMonroe CountyIndian River CountySanta Rosa CountyVolusia CountyFlagler CountyHillsborough CountyLevy CountyMartin CountyMiami-Dade CountyNassau CountyPasco CountyWakulla CountyDuval County