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Fish of South Padre Island

Spanish mackerel

Identification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for spanish mackerel.

A fast, slender, silver mackerel with a green back and scattered yellow to olive oval spots, and no
sharp dip in the lateral line below the second dorsal fin — the mark that separates it from king
mackerel. NOAA Fisheries gives a maximum of about 13 pounds and roughly 12 years, with maturity by
age two, and a preference for water above 68 °F. Spanish mackerel eat herring, menhaden, sardines,
mullet, needlefish and anchovy. There are two stocks, Atlantic and Gulf; NOAA reported the Gulf stock
as neither overfished nor subject to overfishing in a 2023 assessment. They are a warm-season fish at
South Padre Island, worked from the jetties, the surf and the near-beach Gulf, and the UTRGV survey
picked up a juvenile at Holly Beach inside the lagoon in July–September.

Source-backed field notes

  • The Texas state record Spanish mackerel weighed 8.74 pounds at 34.50 inches, caught August 15, 1976 by Bobby Tarter. (State Saltwater Records: Rod and Reel — TPWD)
  • The Lower Laguna Madre record Spanish mackerel is 5.75 pounds, 29.50 inches, caught October 22, 2010 by Julia Mayberry. (All-Tackle Records for Lower Laguna Madre — TPWD)
  • Texas fly-rod state records for this sub-topic: crevalle jack 30.00 lb / 40.00 in (Sep 17 2009, Ronald Cruse, Clouser); Spanish mackerel 6.60 lb / 30.88 in (Jul 29 2007, Christopher Golla); African pompano 8.60 lb / 30.00 in (Aug 28 2006, Stan Nabozny, white chum fly); Gulf kingfish 0.88 lb / 12.50 in (Nov 10 2001, Thomas Sheehan); southern kingfish 1.19 lb / 14.25 in (Jul 9 2000, Galveston Bay, Kenneth Thyssen). (State Saltwater Records: Fly Fishing — TPWD)
  • For the 2026-27 Texas license year, Spanish mackerel have a daily bag of 15 and a 14-inch minimum length with no maximum; king mackerel have a daily bag of 3 and a 27-inch minimum. (Mackerel Bag & Length Limits — TPWD Outdoor Annual)

Observe responsibly

Wildlife, tides and access conditions change. Keep a respectful distance, do not feed wildlife, stay out of dunes and marked nesting areas, and use current official rules before fishing or handling any catch.

Useful next steps

Before you keep a fish

Fishing limits & special rules

Checked . These are dated summaries, not a live season check. Recheck the official rules before fishing, especially for federal waters or a charter trip. A good forecast does not mean a fish can be kept.

Texas waters and Texas landings

Applies to: Texas salt water / Texas landing · recreational · Spanish mackerel

TPWD lists 15 Spanish mackerel daily and a 14-inch minimum.

Daily bag
15 fish
Possession
30 fish
Minimum length
14 inches

How to measure: inches: TPWD total/overall length: jaw closed, straight line from snout tip to extreme tail tip; squeeze a soft tail or turn a hard tail for maximum length Official measuring guide (new tab)

  • The cited Texas page does not list a closure for this fish. Check current notices as well as size and bag limits before fishing.

Source date or edition: 2026-09-01 through 2027-08-31

Official sources

Federal waters — check the official rule

Applies to: Gulf federal waters · recreational · Spanish mackerel recreational component

The cited eCFR text lists 15 Spanish mackerel and a 12-inch fork-length minimum in the Gulf EEZ.

Daily bag
15 fish
Minimum length
12 inches · Fork length

How to measure: Fork length Official measuring guide (new tab)

  • Spanish mackerel landed from the Gulf EEZ must retain head and fins through offloading; eviscerating, gilling, and scaling are allowed.
  • These limits do not confirm an open season for your trip. Check current federal notices for your waters and vessel type.

Source date or edition: mixed: 50 CFR 622.380 displayed through 2026-09-03; 622.381 through 2026-09-01; 622.382 through 2026-08-13

Official sources

Licenses, measuring fish and responsible release · Check island conditions

From field guide to outing

Plan a fishing outing for spanish mackerel

Choose a place, check the season and make this outing your own.

Season

Generally a warm-water visitor, with timing controlled by bait movement, clarity and marine weather

Habitat and areas

Gulf surf, jetties, passes and nearshore water with schooling bait

Watch clean moving water near Isla Blanca, along the surf or from a suitable nearshore boat

Time of day

Choose daylight so you can assess access and footing. Tide, wind, water clarity and recent fronts can change the plan; no hour guarantees a bite. Check the official marine forecast and ask a local operator about your date.

Bait, tackle and approach

Spoons, small plugs, jigs and baitfish rigs are standard

A fast retrieve and a slim, flash-producing presentation cover water. Prevent bite-offs without making the rig unnecessarily heavy

Carry dehooking tools and check your licence, current limits and any closures with TPWD. Confirm federal rules when applicable. Watch for teeth and sharp spines.

Choose a place for this outing

Habitat match means the setting fits the species' habitat—not a sighting report or a percentage. Not assessed means we have not established that match. Color always has a text label.

Select a place to see how it relates to this species.

Read the place guides before choosing →

Saves the place, your interest, selected timing and suggested supplies. It does not book anything. Your existing trip stays intact.

More about Spanish mackerel