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Spanish Mackerel fishing in Sarasota County

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

Spanish Mackerel forecast map for Sarasota 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 Sarasota County

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

Sarasota 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 Sarasota County

1Venice Fishing PierGood · 77HotspotBest in spring and fall at first light off the end; fast silver spoons or Gotchas on a short bite leader.2North Jetty, NokomisGood · 79ReliableSpring and fall runs past the end; fast spoons and Gotchas when birds are working.3Bird Key Park, SarasotaFair · 64ReliableSpring and fall runs in the bay; silver spoons and small jigs at diving birds, with a short heavy leader.4Ted Sperling Park at South Lido BeachExcellent · 80ReliableSpring and fall runs through Big Pass; small spoons when birds are diving.5Nokomis Beach ParkGood · 79Worth a trySpring and fall runs when bait is along the beach; fast silver spoons thrown at diving birds.6Overlook Park, Longboat KeyFair · 62Worth a trySpring and fall runs through the pass; small silver spoons with a short bite leader.7Point of RocksExcellent · 80Worth a tryPass the rocks with bait schools in spring and fall; small spoons.8Blind Pass Beach Park, Manasota KeyGood · 79Worth a tryRun close to the beach in spring and fall; silver spoons, retrieved fast under diving birds.9Manasota Beach ParkGood · 79Worth a tryPass the beach in spring and fall; small spoons.10North Lido BeachFair · 63Worth a tryChase bait near the beach in spring and fall; cast silver spoons fast toward diving birds.11Venice BeachGood · 79Worth a tryShow in spring and fall with bait near the sand; a silver spoon ripped through the diving birds.12Caspersen Beach ParkGood · 76Worth a tryClose in during the spring and fall runs when bait is near; silver spoons, fast, under the birds.13Siesta BeachGood · 79Worth a trySpring and fall when bait is thick along the key; watch for birds and cast fast silver spoons.14Centennial Park, SarasotaFair · 63Worth a trySpring and fall when bait schools move through the bay; silver spoons with a short bite leader.
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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

Pinellas CountyEscambia CountyLee CountyPalm Beach 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