posted by admin on May 8

Key West saltwater fishing can yield King Mackerel such as this one here. They can grow up to 60 pounds but they are commonly caught around the 30 pound size in Key West. They are often caught by trolling spoons or planers underneath the surface of the water. Big ones are often targeted using live Blue Runners using a balloon or a kite. This keeps the bait off the bottom, and in the middle of the water column, where the king mackerel are more likely to bite. The baits usually are rigged with stinger hooks because Mackerel love to go after the tail of their food.

King Mackerel are often targeted on the edge of the dropoff in 60 to 100 feet of water but for Key West saltwater fishing, King Mackerel are caught all over the place including shallow inshore waters. Sometimes you catch them in Hawk’s Channel.

All mackerel are seasonal, which means they are here more in the Winter in the colder water. They are here year round, but more show up in winter. So, if you’re here on a vacation in winter and you want to do some Key West saltwater fishing, Mackerel is one species you can go for at that time. Here’s a tip: mackerel tastes great smoked. Find someone who can smoke it for you, and then make some dip, you’ll want to do some more Key West saltwater fishing just to catch more mackerel for more smoked dip.

Tags: Key West Fishing | Key West Saltwater Fishing