Trolling for Spanish Mackerel in Sarasota, FL

Trolling for Spanish mackerel is the most forgiving boat fishing Sarasota offers — no anchoring, no bottom-reading, no casting skill required — and during the runs it borders on automatic. The spring migration arrives in March as water passes 68 degrees and peaks in April; the fall run peaks in October and holds through November. During those windows the fish are wherever the glass minnows are: along the beaches from Anna Maria to Venice in 15-30 feet, around the mouths of Big Sarasota Pass and New Pass on outgoing tides, and over the nearshore reefs.

The fish-finding tool is your eyes — run the beach line off Lido and Siesta scanning for diving terns and gulls and the silver 'showers' of bait spraying out of the water. In an April blitz there can be birds working every 200 yards.

The spread is two #00 or #0 Clarkspoons staggered at different distances — one behind a 1-2 oz trolling sinker, one behind a #1 planer for depth — pulled at 5-7 knots. A bare spoon on a flat line spins uselessly on the surface.

Troll through the edges of the bait schools, never the middle, or you put the whole show down; when a rod bows, keep the boat moving until the fish is hooked, then slow. Start with 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for more bites, and add six inches of #3 single-strand wire only after the second cut-off. Typical Sarasota Spanish run 1-3 lb with 4-5 lb fish possible in the fall, and the same pass regularly produces king mackerel, jacks, and bonito. Regulations: 12-inch fork minimum, 15 per person per day, open year-round — see the FWC Spanish mackerel page. Bleed and ice immediately and eat them fresh; Spanish are excellent the day they are caught.