Best Months
Jan – Dec
Best Time
Early morning peak; also productive in the last two hours of daylight
Tide
Incoming tide on reef edges and channel markers; fish the run-in for best results
Top Locations
56 regions
How to Catch Spanish Mackerel
Incoming tide on reef edges and channel markers; fish the run-in for best results
Early morning peak; also productive in the last two hours of daylight
Clear water with moderate current flow, 24–28°C; mackerel hunt on current-swept structure
Reef edges, channel markers, bomboras, rocky headlands, depth transitions from 10–30m
Troll at 5–8 knots with lure running 15–25m back; vary speed; live yakkas drifted back with current are deadly
Wire trace is non-negotiable — mackerel teeth will cut 100lb fluorocarbon in milliseconds. Use 49-strand wire and re-check it after each fish.
Best Regions by Month
Seasonal ratings across all Australian regions. Click a region to see the full calendar.
Working metal jigs up and down in the water column over reefs or structure.
Presenting live baitfish (yakkas, mullet, mackerel) to attract larger predators.
Dragging lures or baits at speed behind a moving boat. Primary technique for pelagics.