Spanish mackerel fishing out of Darien runs from about 30 ft just outside the inlet to Gray’s Reef and the hard bottom east of it. Boats work a depth band of about 30 to 75 ft. Ramps, bar crossings and other species are covered under fishing out of Darien.
This page covers when the fish are around, how far boats run, the named grounds, how Spanish are caught locally and who fishes for them from this port.
When Spanish mackerel are off Darien
Spanish show up in the July and August tournament window, during the Sapelo Open and Captain Hap’s. For the broader timing picture, read about the coastwide Spanish mackerel migration (see also the wider Atlantic Southeast guide).
The tournament window
July and August are the months Spanish are documented here. No month range is published for Darien itself, so treat that window as the known period rather than a hard boundary.
Reading conditions at 41008
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC 41008 Gray’s Reef (31.400N 80.866W), 40 NM southeast of Savannah per NOAA. It reports wind, wave height and dominant period as numbers. Check those against the official marine forecast before the run.
Where boats run for Spanish
Local catches come from about 30 to 75 ft, from just outside the inlet to the hard bottom east of Gray’s Reef. Spanish sit in about 30 ft outside the inlet, turn up on the way to Gray’s, and work the surface over Gray’s and the hard bottom east of it.
The beach reefs, BH at 10-16 ft and BL at 9-15 ft, are shallower than that band. Chart layers are not for navigation.
| Name | Type | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old D buoy | buoy, Doboy Sound entrance | about 2 miles offshore | |
| BH reef | beach reef | 10-16 ft | 2.5 nm east of Blackbeard Island |
| BL reef | beach reef | 9-15 ft | |
| KTK reef | offshore artificial reef | 35-45 ft | 7 nm east of Blackbeard Island |
| J reef (JY, formerly J) | reef | ||
| Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary | sanctuary | ||
| Middlegrounds 70-foot spot | 70 ft | ||
| R2 Navy tower | tower | 72 ft | 38 nm east of Sapelo Island |
Old D buoy at Doboy Sound
The Old D buoy is about 2 miles offshore, at the entrance to Doboy Sound.
Just outside the inlet in 30 ft
A team fishing in about 30 ft just outside the inlet reported Spanish mixed with sharks.
BH reef
BH is a beach reef in 10-16 ft, 2.5 nm east of Blackbeard Island.
BL reef
BL is a beach reef in 9-15 ft.
KTK reef
KTK is an offshore artificial reef in 35-45 ft, 7 nm east of Blackbeard Island.
J/JY reef
J reef is listed as JY, formerly J.
On the way to Gray’s
A Sapelo Open team caught Spanish on a Sabiki rig while bait fishing on the run to Gray’s.
Gray’s Reef and the hard bottom east of it
Surface activity shows over Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and the hard bottom east of it.
Middlegrounds 70-foot spot
The Middlegrounds spot is in 70 ft, and boats are on it by 7:45.
R2 Navy tower
The R2 Navy tower stands in 72 ft, 38 nm east of Sapelo Island, at the deep end of the band.
How Spanish are fished here
Locally, Spanish come on Sabiki rigs at the bait stop or as bycatch on king trips. For leaders, line and lures, see Spanish mackerel tackle and rigging.
Sabiki rigs
Sabikis take the small ones while you bait fish, which matches the Sapelo Open report from the run to Gray’s.
Bycatch on king trips
Spanish also come up while live-baiting or trolling for kings. For more on king mackerel and other coastal gamefish, see the gamefish guides. Sharks were reported mixed in with Spanish in the 30 ft water outside the inlet.
Who fishes them out of Darien
Two groups work these fish: tournament teams and charter captains.
Tournament teams
Sapelo Open and Captain Hap’s teams fish the July and August window. Their reports place Spanish in 30 ft outside the inlet, on the way to Gray’s, and on the surface over Gray’s.
Charters that list Spanish
Two local charters list Spanish mackerel:
- Reel Busy Shark Charter: Captain Billy Stafford
- Coastal Ga Fishing
FAQ: Spanish mackerel fishing out of Darien
When are Spanish mackerel around Darien?
They are documented in the July and August tournament window, during the Sapelo Open and Captain Hap’s.
How far do boats run?
From about 2 miles out at the Old D buoy to 38 nm out at the R2 tower. Most reports come from just outside the inlet out to Gray’s Reef and the hard bottom east of it.
What depth holds them?
About 30 to 75 ft.
What rig catches them locally?
Sabiki rigs take small fish. Otherwise they come as bycatch while live-baiting or trolling for kings.
Can I book a charter for Spanish?
Yes. Reel Busy Shark Charter, with Captain Billy Stafford, and Coastal Ga Fishing both list Spanish mackerel.
