Mackerel
CommonSaltwater
A fast, schooling baitfish predator that hits almost anything shiny worked quickly through the water. Not line-shy at all — a spoon or spinner retrieved fast through a school produces nonstop action.
Profile
- Fight: 5/10
- Trophy: 1/10
- Wariness: 1/10
- Abundance: 9/10
- Aggression: 8/10
- Table: 5/10
- Typical weight
- 0.7–2.2 lbs (0.3–1.0 kg)
- Record
- 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)
Season
- Jan: 15%
- Feb: 15%
- Mar: 25%
- Apr: 50%
- May: 75%
- Jun: 85%
- Jul: 80%
- Aug: 70%
- Sep: 55%
- Oct: 30%
- Nov: 18%
- Dec: 15%
Seasonality shown is typical for temperate North America — your local waters may vary.
Time of day
- 12 AM: 8%
- 1 AM: 6%
- 2 AM: 5%
- 3 AM: 5%
- 4 AM: 6%
- 5 AM: 15%
- 6 AM: 35%
- 7 AM: 55%
- 8 AM: 70%
- 9 AM: 80%
- 10 AM: 85%
- 11 AM: 85%
- 12 PM: 80%
- 1 PM: 78%
- 2 PM: 80%
- 3 PM: 82%
- 4 PM: 78%
- 5 PM: 65%
- 6 PM: 45%
- 7 PM: 25%
- 8 PM: 15%
- 9 PM: 12%
- 10 PM: 10%
- 11 PM: 9%
Conditions
Temp57–68°F (14–20°C)
Depth3–49 ft (1–15 m)
PressureAny
LightBright
Lures
Tips
- Retrieve a spoon or spinner quickly — mackerel chase fast-moving lures aggressively.
- Once you find a school, stay on it — mackerel move fast and attack in numbers.
- Bright, flashy lures outperform natural or dull colors for triggering strikes.
Live bite index for your spot
Vobbl scores today’s weather against this species’ profile, hour by hour, wherever you fish.