When Spanish mackerel show up at Carrabelle
Spanish mackerel fishing out of Carrabelle is a spring fishery. Port details are on the Carrabelle port page.
Guidesly puts the season at March to May, while the Fishanywhere calendar marks March. Species biology and migration are covered in our Spanish mackerel guide.
| Source | Window |
|---|---|
| Guidesly | March to May |
| Fishanywhere calendar | March |
Where boats run: St. George Sound and nearshore
Fishanywhere places the fish nearshore and in St. George Sound once the water warms. Drop Zone runs a 4-hour nearshore trip that targets them.
Named structure falls into three distance groups, measured from the Carrabelle Red 10 buoy:
- About 5.5 nm: Carrabelle 3 Mile
- About 11 to 17 nm: Robby’s Reef, Carrabelle Reef Culverts, O-Tower Barge, Carrabelle/Rotary and K Tower
- 28.9 nm: S Tower
Choose the run that suits your boat and fuel, and check wind, wave height and period in the official NWS marine forecast before leaving the dock. For the wider regional picture, see the Gulf-wide Spanish mackerel picture (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide).
Named grounds and structure near Carrabelle
All distances and bearings run from the Carrabelle Red 10 buoy. Each site carries its AARA number so you can cross-reference it on any reef list or chart.
10 Mile Reef System
The CCA Dr. Bart Carey Reef, part of the Carrabelle 10 Mile Reef System, sits in 50 ft of water.
Reef table
| Site | AARA ID | Depth (ft) | Distance (nm from Red 10) | Bearing (°) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrabelle 3 Mile | FR0018 | 39 | 5.5 | 107.2 |
| Robby’s Reef | FR0039 | 52 | 11.6 | 127.7 |
| Carrabelle Reef Culverts | FR0012 | 70 | 14.5 | 169.5 |
| O-Tower Barge / Carrabelle Reef Barge | FR0013 | 74 | 15.0 | 169.0 |
| Carrabelle/Rotary | FR0011 | 15.6 | 176.7 | |
| K Tower | FR0007 | 60 | 17.2 | 113.8 |
| S Tower | FR0005 | 105 | 28.9 | 173.3 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
FR0018 is one of several Carrabelle 3 Mile sites. Robby’s Reef was added in 2016. The Culverts, O-Tower Barge and Rotary sit between 169.0 and 176.7 degrees, at 14.5 to 15.6 nm.
The AARA numbers match the reef layer in the app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How Spanish mackerel are fished out of Carrabelle
The local method is trolling silver lures. Fishanywhere’s Carrabelle fishing notes say most anglers run black or bronze swivels, because Spanish will hit a silver swivel.
Tackle and technique for other gamefish are collected in our coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
| Piece of gear | Local practice |
|---|---|
| Lure | Silver, trolled |
| Swivel | Black or bronze |
Carrabelle fishing charters that target Spanish
These operators list Spanish mackerel among their targets:
- Drop Zone Fishing: 31 ft Bluewater with twin 300 hp Suzuki engines, captained by Del Betit. Runs a 4-hour nearshore trip that targets Spanish.
- Shell Yeah Charters: Captain Pat McElreath, USCG OUPV licensed.
- Gritwater Outfitters USA: 22 ft Twin Vee and 22 ft Baycat, captained by Terry Martin.
FAQ: Spanish mackerel out of Carrabelle
When does Spanish mackerel fishing out of Carrabelle start?
Guidesly gives March to May, and the Fishanywhere calendar marks March.
How far do boats run for Spanish?
Boats fish nearshore and in St. George Sound. Named structure sits at 5.5 nm, about 11 to 17 nm, and 28.9 nm from Red 10.
What is the closest named reef?
Carrabelle 3 Mile, FR0018, at 39 ft, 5.5 nm and bearing 107.2 from Red 10. It is one of several Carrabelle 3 Mile sites.
Why black or bronze swivels?
Spanish will hit a silver swivel, so most anglers run black or bronze.
Can I book a nearshore trip for Spanish?
Drop Zone Fishing runs a 4-hour nearshore trip that targets them.
How are king mackerel and Spanish mackerel different?
The species guide linked above covers how the two compare.
