Spanish mackerel fishing out of Venice runs on two windows: spring (Mar to May) and fall (Oct to Nov). Every run in this guide starts at Venice Inlet and works outward by distance: the beach and pier, the Intracoastal, Reef 14 and the Venice reef sites, then the M-series. Inlet and ramp details are on the Venice port page.
When Spanish mackerel are off Venice
Spanish mackerel show off Venice in two runs, Mar to May and Oct to Nov. The wider migration picture is in the Gulf of Mexico Spanish mackerel guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide).
| Run | Window |
|---|---|
| Spring | Mar to May |
| Fall | Oct to Nov |
Spring run (Mar to May)
Spring, Mar to May, is the first of the two runs.
Fall run (Oct to Nov)
The second run comes in fall, Oct to Nov.
Where boats run and the structure that holds fish
The nearest named structure is Reef 14, 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet in 25 ft. The grounds below are listed outward by distance. Chart layers are not for navigation, so run your own charts and plotter.
Venice Fishing Pier and beach
Boats work the Venice Fishing Pier and the beach, the closest water to the inlet.
Venice to Sarasota Intracoastal
Venice Reef Charters lists the Venice to Sarasota Intracoastal as a run for Spanish mackerel.
Reef 14 / Site I4
Venice Reef Site I4, also called Reef 14 (Venice Bridge and Pier), sits in 25 ft, 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet. The name comes from the bridge and pier material on the bottom.
Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 and V-1 to V-5
Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 are old bridge materials and concrete rubble. Venice Reef V-1 to V-5 are limestone boulders.
M-series reefs (M-9, M-10, M-11, M-13, M-15a and M-15b)
The M-series sits farther out and is built from a mix of materials:
- M-9: tanks, 60 ft, 15.5 nm at 205° from the New Pass Gulf marker
- M-10: upside-down barge and sailboat hulls
- M-11: reef balls
- M-13: concrete culverts, sites 1 to 5
- M-15a and M-15b: culverts and rubble
The M-9 bearing is not from Venice Inlet. Plot it from the New Pass Gulf marker.
| Site | Material | Depth | Distance / bearing | Reference point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef 14 / Site I4 | Venice Bridge and Pier | 25 ft | 0.8 nm at 230° | Venice Inlet |
| Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 | Old bridge materials, concrete rubble | |||
| Venice Reef V-1 to V-5 | Limestone boulders | |||
| M-9 | Tanks | 60 ft | 15.5 nm at 205° | New Pass Gulf marker |
| M-10 | Upside-down barge, sailboat hulls | |||
| M-11 | Reef balls | |||
| M-13 | Concrete culverts, sites 1 to 5 | |||
| M-15a and M-15b | Culverts, rubble |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
How Spanish mackerel are fished out of Venice
Locals keep the setup simple: a silver spoon or a small white jig, with a short wire leader ahead of the lure. Line weights, biology and identification are in the Spanish mackerel guide.
Spoon or jig
The local setup is a silver spoon or small white jig.
Short wire leader
A short wire leader ahead of the lure protects the line from the fish’s teeth.
Reading conditions at VENF1
The nearest NOAA buoy station is NOAA C-MAN station VENF1 (Venice, FL), at 27.072 N, 82.453 W. It is a fixed coastal station and reports its own position, not M-9 or the rest of the M-series. Read these as numbers, then check the NWS Tampa Bay marine forecast:
- Wind: speed and direction at the station
- Wave height: in feet
- Period: in seconds
Who fishes for them out of Venice
Two Venice charters list Spanish mackerel. Guides for other coastal and offshore gamefish cover the rest of the reef traffic.
Liquid Lifestyle Charters
Liquid Lifestyle Charters lists Spanish mackerel. Captain Eric White is named on the site.
Venice Reef Charters
Venice Reef Charters lists Spanish mackerel and runs Venice to Sarasota on the Intracoastal. Captain Phil Bloom is named on the site.
| Charter | Captain | Lists Spanish mackerel |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Lifestyle Charters | Eric White | Yes |
| Venice Reef Charters | Phil Bloom | Yes |
FAQ: Spanish mackerel fishing out of Venice
When do Spanish mackerel run off Venice?
Spring (Mar to May) and fall (Oct to Nov). Fish are never guaranteed, so use the windows to decide when to look.
What is the closest reef to Venice Inlet?
Reef 14, also called Site I4, is the closest named structure: 25 ft, 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet. The structure is Venice Bridge and Pier material.
What lure do locals use?
A silver spoon or a small white jig, with a short wire leader ahead of the lure.
Which charters target them?
Liquid Lifestyle Charters (Captain Eric White named on the site) and Venice Reef Charters (Captain Phil Bloom named on the site). Both list Spanish mackerel. Venice Reef Charters also runs Venice to Sarasota on the Intracoastal.
Where do I check wind and seas?
Use NOAA C-MAN station VENF1 at 27.072 N, 82.453 W, plus the NWS Tampa Bay marine forecast. VENF1 reports its own position only. Look at wind speed, wave height in feet and period in seconds.
