AS SEEN IN THE 2004 FALL ISSUE

Fast, powerful and aggressive, hordes of invading Spanish mackerel make ideal targets for South Florida’s novice and professional fly fishermen! Get out there and make the most of this winter’s mac attack!”
The relentless wind has settled down, and in the near perfect weather of another Florida winter day you head offshore to find the surface of the Atlantic seething with frenzied fish. You cast your fly, let it sink and then strip as fast as you can until, WHAM! You're hooked up and the line disappears off the deck from the blistering speed of a hard charging Spanish mackerel.

The upcoming winter run of Spanish mackerel provides fly anglers of all skill levels a chance for nonstop light tackle action. Spanish mackerel are like adrenaline filled torpedoes, making long runs and tearing through anything that gets in their way. And the best part is they’re so plentiful that every cast often results in action!

"Here on the Atlantic coast, they start showing up in November," according to fly and light tackle specialist Capt. Joe Massaro of Outlaw Charters in Stuart (772-286-0702).† “These fish are usually found in large numbers throughout the winter and often well into early March. They are essentially a cold water fish, preferring water temperature ranging from 68-74 degrees, although they can be sporadically found throughout the year,” Massaro says. As long as the water is clean, huge numbers of Spanish mackerel are often found devastating bait congregations anywhere from the wash on out to 25 ft. “If the water’s murky, they'll push all the way out to 50 ft,” he adds.

Like any game fish, anglers can hone in on likely areas to target these yellow spotted speedsters. "Head up or down the beach and look for oily surface slicks and screaming birds. Just like bluefish, the birds will actually be working directly over the schools of frenzied fish," says Massaro. “Keep an eye on your fish finder, but also use a pair of binoculars to locate areas of surface activity. These fish get so thick that in crystal clear water you can often look down and see them. It looks like the bottom's moving. That's how tightly packed they can get."

Why would an angler choose to fly fish for Spanish mackerel? "It's more fun," says Massaro. Also, anglers fly fishing for Spanish mackerel are often more successful than their conventional counterparts due to the realistic action of a stripped fly compared to that of a wobbling spoon. It’s not uncommon for fly fishermen to out-fish conventional anglers by as much as 3 to 1.

Spanish mackerel appear in such large numbers that they make an ideal target for novice fly fishermen who are still honing their skills. "It’s great sport for somebody who's just learning how to fly fish because they always seem to be hooked up," says Massaro. "It's like every strip, you've got a fish on; you’ll quickly learn how to clear line, how to get the fish on the reel and how to keep the rod bent," he adds.

Light fly tackle and properly tied flies are essential for success. Massaro
recommends using nothing more than 6 or 8 weight fly rods and sinking or intermediate fly lines. Sinking lines are necessary to get the fly down to the level of the larger fish. “A lot of guys will use 200, 300 or 400 grain lines to get the fly down,” says John B. Sweeney, president of John B's Fly & Light Tackle in Stuart (772-287-6535).

Seven or eight foot fluorocarbon leaders are preferred. Spanish
mackerel are not spooky fish and a stiff breeze can make casting long leaders a bit difficult. "If you're just learning to fly fish, a straight piece of 30 to a piece of 50 is all that’s required; this is one sure way to quickly learn how to catch them," says Massaro.

Having multiple rods rigged is the best way to stay in the action, since
flies will be changed often. "Because I guide, I bring along six rods, but you definitely don’t need a half dozen outfits. Just make sure to have plenty of leaders made up with loop to loop connections," he says.

Fly selections should imitate the prevalent bait the Spanish mackerel are feeding on. Usually, they're gorging on glass minnows; a small baitfish about two inches in length with silver sides and a dark green back. Spanish mackerel flies imitating this type of forage are typically tied on the bend of a long shank hook, which eliminates the need for a wire bite tippet.†This method of tying has two advantages. First, it is easier to cast without the wire and secondly, the lack of wire gives the fly a more natural appearance.

Be prepared to go through at least a dozen flies in a full day of hot mackerel fishing. Synthetic material is preferred for durability, but even the best tied flies will only last for two or three fish. "I tie 300-400 before the season even starts," Massaro says.

It is crucial that the fly be allowed to sink after the cast, because mackerel are primarily a mid-level feeding fish. "When I tell people to cast, I tell
them to give it at least a ten count so the fly can get down to the
bottom," says Massaro. The ocean plays a big part in the presentation of the
fly as well. "You've got to remember, you're in the ocean; you always have a little current and a little wind, so you're going to move; let the fly sink".
The larger mackerel also tend to hang beneath the smaller fish, so waiting for the fly to sink is crucial when attempting to hook the larger fish in the school. "By bigger fish, I'm talking 6 or 7 lbs., which is a decent size Spanish mackerel," adds Massaro.

Massaro prefers to position fly anglers on the bow of the boat for ease of
casting and to avoid snagging the boat or other anglers on the back cast. The shear abundance of Spanish mackerel allows for more than one person to fish at a time. "It’s really the only species that you can have a guy up in the bow fly fishing and a guy throwing a spinner off the stern and they're both catching one fish after another.”

Casting direction is just as important as presentation. "If it's a light wind, I would throw into the wind because of the way the flies are designed. If you throw into the wind, you have less of a chance of getting it stuck in your neck. We call it chuck and duck," says Massaro with a smile.

After the fly has settled to the level of the fish, the next thing to remember
is it’s impossible to strip too quickly. "Count to ten, then strip as fast as you can; they'll eat it! You're not going to out-strip these fish," says Massaro. "Short, and as fast as you can go."

Spanish mackerel are capable of brief high speed bursts, so be prepared to
clear the fly line and make sure the fly reel has plenty of backing. Fortunately, they run out of energy quickly, but the first run will get you into the backing if you're only using a six weight rod. These high speed bursts are what make catching Spanish mackerel so enjoyable for light tackle fly anglers.

Tactics for fighting Spanish mackerel are similar to that of any fish capable of high speed runs. "Hang on for the first run, keep the bend in the rod low and never high stick them. For that matter, never high stick any fish," Massaro says. 'High sticking' is raising the fly rod straight into the air. This practice should be avoided.

To clear the fly line without risk of a tangle, put the butt of the fly rod flush against the forearm and turn the reel upwards at a 45 degree angle to the sky. Form an ‘O’ with the line hand so the line flows smoothly from the deck of the boat through the guides and onto the reel.

Hooking mackerel should be no problem due to their voracity in attacking baitfish. They're very aggressive when they're schooled and you can actually get three or four strikes on one cast. Massaro recommends de-barbing the flies for easy release; don’t worry if the fish spits the fly, there's always another close behind.

Spanish mackerel are plentiful through the winter, so fly anglers should
avoid the crowds. "You'll find packs of feeding fish up and down the beach, so you don't need to be right in the middle of a group of boats, especially with a fly rod in hand. “If you do hook a big one and all of a sudden the fish decides to run under someone else’s boat, you’ll get your line cut and that’s how arguments start," says Massaro. He adds, "Just wander off and you'll find your own school of cooperative fish."

Spanish mackerel are not the only fish a fly angler may encounter while
fishing with these techniques.† It's not surprising to hook a kingfish, snapper, bluefish or big jacks.

Some anglers use chum to keep the school near the boat, but Massaro prefers
not to. "A lot of people use chum down at Peck's lake, but there's a big bull shark problem down here. You can anchor up, throw some chum and you'll be good for about 30 minutes until the sharks come in to investigate. Once that happens, the schools of mackerel are long gone and you'll have to relocate and start all over again.”

According to the FWC's recreational saltwater fishing regulations, Spanish mackerel have a 12 inch size minimum and a 15 fish bag limit. As with
any fish, anglers should conserve the resource and take only enough for the
dinner table. Fresh Spanish mackerel are delicious grilled, broiled or fried into bite-sized pieces, though they do not freeze very well. Be sure to completely skin the fillets to avoid the metallic taste of the skin.

For fly fishermen learning the ropes, or simply looking to have an enjoyable time catching plenty of fish, Mr. Mac Daddy is the way to go!

Fly Recipe

John B. Sweeney's Spanish Mackerel Clouser Fly

”The Spanish Mackerel Clouser Minnow is a simple and effective fly that
eliminates the need for a bite tippet when angling for toothy fish. The
flies are tied on the bend of the hook, this way you don't have to use
wire” says Sweeney, fly tying instructor and president of John
B's Fly and Light Tackle, in Stuart (772-287-6535). John was kind enough to provide the South Florida Sport Fishing Magazine the inside scoop on tying this deadly Spanish mackerel fly.

Materials:
Red thread
Eagle claw classic 066N #4 long shank hook
Green and silver crystal flash
Silver dumbbell eyes

1. Start with a sharpened long shank hook. Attach the red thread beginning just before the gape and wrap down to the bend.†

2. Tie the dumbbell eyes on the top of the hook so the fly will ride
point-up.† Be sure the dumbbell eyes are positioned well back on the shank.†The shank of the hook now serves as a bite tippet.

3. Next, tie the silver flash that will be the belly of the fly. Tie it in
front of the dumbbell eyes.†

4. Finally, tie the green flash that will make the back of the fly and then
whip finish. Head cement is not necessary, according to Sweeney, since the
fly will be destroyed quickly by the fish's teeth.

With Spanish mackerel flies, the one thing you have to remember is no matter what, if the action is furious, they don’t last. Recommended would be tying a dozen at a time.

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