As the dog days of summer set in and the days become long it is great to be able to slip out after work for an early evening of fishing. This time of year one of my favorite species to pursue after work are the Spanish Mackerel. Spanish generally start showing up here in the Carolinas in early to mid May as the water temperatures rise above the upper sixties. The fish will stick around usually though September before beginning their migration back south.
Spanish generally feed in large schools on the surface making them relatively easy to find as the winds die down toward sunset. Schooling fish will tail, boil, splash and sometimes jump completely out of the water when chasing their prey. Actively feeding fish are usually accompanied by gulls and terns working overhead to pick up the scraps of bait fish left behind.
Schooling fish occur in areas that receive high bait traffic, therefore inlets are by far one of the best areas for locating fish. Other common areas for locating Spanish include: areas of structure; such as large shell banks, shallow reefs, and jetties that hold bait fish, the surf zone known to hold large schools of mullet, and just offshore where large schools of migrating menhaden and glass minnows (Bay anchovies, tiny sardines, and other sub-juvenile fish) occur.
One of the most common mistakes made when fishing for these schooling fish is not matching the hatch. Our instincts lead us to believe if we present a bait that is larger and more colorful than those in the water the school will go right after it. However, most experienced anglers will tell you, the fish are concentrating on eating what is plentiful and easy for them to catch. Biologically it is not worth the effort for them to expend the added energy to chase a larger less plentiful prey. Furthermore, since your bait appears unordinary it may in fact spook the fish. Therefore, it is essential to get a good look at what the school of Spanish are feeding on prior selecting a bait from the tackle box.