Spanish Mackerel Fishing Out of Naples: Grounds and Runs

Where Naples boats run for Spanish mackerel

Spanish mackerel fishing out of Naples is built on named structure, stated distances and one local method: work the top of the water column between bottom stops. Start with the Naples port guide for the pass, ramps and general water. Everything below covers where the mackerel fit into that day.

Naples as a pelagic take-off point

Chasin’ Tales describes Naples as a take-off point for pelagic species, including Spanish mackerel. If you already run to bottom grounds, the mackerel ride along on legs you make anyway. Each run from the pass to a named site crosses pelagic water, and the distance from Naples determines how much of it you cover.

When the fish are here

Timing and biology are in our Spanish mackerel guide. The migration along this coast is covered in the Gulf of Mexico Spanish mackerel guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide).

Reading conditions at NPSF1

The nearest NOAA buoy is station NPSF1 (station 8725110), Naples, FL, at 26.132 N 81.807 W. Check the NOAA station NPSF1 readings before you commit to a run. The station reports what it measures and is not a forecast, so read the wind, pressure and water numbers as listed, then check the official NOAA marine forecast for the zone you will fish.

Grounds and structure that hold them

The sites below run from nearest to farthest. Distances for The Kidd and the Black Hole come from the Collier County site list.

You can load these sites as waypoints and read them against Chart Contours in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.

The Kidd

The Kidd is a barge 14 miles SSW of Naples, per the Collier County site list. It is the nearest stop on the list, so work it first and build the rest of the day outward from there.

Naples Spring Black Hole

Naples Spring Black Hole is a sinkhole 27.5 miles out, per the Collier County list. That is roughly twice the distance to The Kidd.

Baja California

Baja California lies in 114 ft, 60 miles west of Naples. It is the farthest named ground here and the only site on this list with a depth figure.

The Air Force relay towers

R Tower, L Tower and D Tower are Air Force relay towers. Anglers search for them by name.

How Spanish mackerel are fished out of Naples

Spanish mackerel fishing out of Naples rides on bottom trips: the mackerel are a top-of-the-water-column add-on to days built around bottom stops. For other pelagic targets on the same runs, see the coastal and offshore gamefish guides.

Working the top of the water column

Per Chasin’ Tales, local boats fish surface and near-surface for pelagic species. The fish live in the top of the water column, so that is where the line goes, whether the next stop is The Kidd or a tower.

Between bottom stops

Chasin’ Tales works the top of the water column between bottom stops. Apply that to the run order above: each leg between named sites is pelagic water, and the bottom stops are where you slow down and fish the structure. The mackerel fishing fills the gaps in a bottom day and takes nothing from it.

Who fishes for them out of Naples

These Naples charters list Spanish mackerel:

• Offshore Naples Fishing Charters: 36-foot Contender.
• Naples Fishing Boats
• Pure Florida (Sea Flight II and III): private catamarans with twin 300 hp outboards.
• Chasin’ Tales Fishing Charters

FAQ about Spanish mackerel fishing out of Naples