But this was May. Mother's Day to be precise. The water temperature was nudging the mid-70 range and we were out to catch anything we could find off the beach that day. Our first stop during the outgoing tide was an artificial reef (AR-315) right in front of the Atlantic Beach Circle, noticeable by the amusement park rides. We dropped 2-ounce jigging spoons to the bottom and immediately were rewarded with strikes. Our light spinning rods bent double as we struggled to bring our catches to the surface in 50 feet of water. The fish were gray trout (weakfish), about 3 pounds each. I quickly marked the spot with a jug buoy. We were into them until the tide slacked off a couple of hours later. The fishing was fun and was marked by the appearance of a citation-sized trout that got off at boatside, due to a botched net job. I won't say who had the fish or who had the net, only that I was the more disappointed one.
When the tide slacked off so did the bite. My plan was to check the incoming tide for the first Spanish mackerel of the year at Cape Lookout. We were off. It was very calm on the ocean, almost glassy. I had the throttle open all the way. We flew across Onslow Bay in a 17-foot skiff that I use for my personal fun fishing. When we got to the Cape Lookout Jetty we were amazed by what we saw: The surface of the water covered in the splashes and boils of feeding fish. Small glass minnows were leaping for their lives only to be intercepted by sharp-eyed seagulls. I told Paul to get up in the bow and get his 8-weight flyrod ready. He had an intermediate line and a small chartreuse-over-white Bulletproof Baitfish fly. I got the boat into position as he cast into the melee and began to strip line as fast as he could. He got a strike right away. When he set the hook, I realized that what he had was not a Spanish mackerel, but a king! Unfortunately, the 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader was not up to the task of a king's teeth. The fight was over...fast.
While Paul was rigging up a new fly on a new shock leader, I assumed the position on the forward casting deck and subsequently hooked up. My fish, a feisty 2-pound Spanish mackerel, ran out a little line and gave me a fun scrap. I decided to let this one go, using my rubberized catch and release net. Being careful of the needle sharp teeth, I extracted the hook using long-nosed pliers, dropped the fish headfirst into the water, and watched it swim off at top speed. Meanwhile, Paul was into a fish already. The action continued unabated until the tide came in and high water dispersed the fish. We had two solid hours of non-stop surface action on Spanish mackerel up to 3 1/2 pounds! Talk about fun!
When fly-fishing for Spanish mackerel you need to be aware of a couple of things. First, and foremost, are those teeth. They are sharp and interlock. I have experienced a worse bite from a 12-inch Spanish mackerel than I have a 15-pound bluefish! They have a way of shaking their heads at just the right (wrong) time and getting you.
Next, is the clear water where they prefer to reside. This precludes the use of wire leaders. I prefer a shock tippet of 40-pound fluorocarbon connected to my leader with an Albright Special knot. The fluoro almost disappears in the water, therefore fish won't shy off. Wire leaders let them know something is up.
Third, consider the Spanish mac's choice of food. Usually small and shiny, their prey has only one way to get away... swim very fast! So, use small, shiny streamers and move them as fast as you can. In fact, I tell clients that when they think they are stripping fast enough, go a little faster. This means ripping the line through your stripping hand in long pulls, doing it again and again before the fly has a chance to settle.
My favorite fly for Spanish is one I developed a couple years ago called the Bulletproof Baitfish. Tied on a size 2 hook with minimal amounts of hair, but lots of flash, it is a dead ringer for those little glass minnows found from south of the Chesapeake Bay and through the Gulf of Mexico, properly known as Atlantic silversides. Spanish mackerel will nail it all day.
The first Spanish macs will hit the beaches of North Carolina sometime in the beginning of May. I like to use Mother's Day to mark my first day fishing for macs, besides, it's already on my calendar. But, fish don't have calendars. In May of 2000 they blitzed beaches along Bogue Banks from Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach on May 3rd. They will hang around the area and provide good fishing all summer until the water temperatures drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The biggest macs of the year are caught in early October on the Cape Lookout Shoals, right before they disappear for the season. Six- and 7-pound Spanish provide excellent targets for fly-rodders around Columbus Day weekend in water less than 10 feet deep. You can often look down in the water and see them swimming under the boat! Try a popper, you won't be disappointed.
I hope you get a chance to try Spanish macs on the fly this spring. They are an under-appreciated fish for the fly-rodder, but provide everything a saltwater fly-fishing angler could want. Fast action on fish that feed on the surface, and they are good to eat besides! What more could you want on Mother's Day!