Mackerel season is coming up quickly, likely only a couple of months away, and I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the best Spanish Mackerel Lures. Whether you are chasing Spotties or those big Spanish “Silver Ghosts,” your choice of lure is the difference between a screaming reel and a quiet day on the water. Today, I’m digging through my tackle boxes to give you a rundown on the hardbodies, slugs, and jigs that actually put fish on the deck.
Trolling Hardbodies: Covering Ground Fast
Off the Gold Coast, trolling lures is a classic way to cover ground and find where the fish are holding. While bait fishing has become popular recently, trolling hardbodies allows you to move faster—around 6.5 knots—to trigger those aggressive strikes.
1. The Classic Halco Laser Pro
You can’t go past the old stock standard Halco. The red and white 2-meter diver is an absolute cracker and a safe bet for any fisho. I also swear by gold; it’s a universal color that catches everything on the reef. Halcos are great because they are affordable and they flat-out work.
2. Samaki Pacemaker
The “new kid on the block” that really fired up last year was the Samaki Pacemaker. These are incredible deep-diving lures. I recommend running these in your “corners”—the positions closest to the boat. Because they dive deep, they help you cover a different part of the water column while your shallower lures are out wide.
3. Nomad DTX Minnow
The Nomads are strange-looking critters, but the mackerel have been smashing them for the last few years. Like the Samakis, these are great for those corner positions. Mixing up your spread with deep divers in close and shallower 2-meter divers out wide is the “Tactical” way to ensure you aren’t missing fish swimming at different depths.
Old School Favorites: The Rapala CD Series
I’ve always been a fan of “Old School” gear, and for me, the Rapala CD (CountDown) 11s and 14s are the kings of mackerel fishing. These lures have a “shiny beard” and a weight that gives them a perfect swimming action. They are getting harder to find and aren’t cheap anymore, but if you can get your hands on them, they are my personal favorite for a reason—they just catch fish.
High-Speed Slugs and Sinking Stick Baits
Sometimes trolling is slow, and you need to change tactics. If you see bait schools down deep on your sounder but aren’t getting bites, it’s time to pull out the heavy slugs and sinking stick baits.
The secret here is the “fleeing baitfish” instinct. You drop these lures straight down into the bait school, click into gear, and wind as fast as you possibly can. Don’t do anything fancy—no twitching or “walking the dog.” Just wind “all the clappers” to pull it up through the water column. Mackerel see that speed and strike out of pure instinct. Just be careful not to snag the bottom, as these aren’t cheap lures!
Surface Action and Floating Stick Baits
If you see bait balls pushing up high or fish marking near the surface, floating stick baits are the way to go. Again, the key is speed. Cast them out and wind them flat-out across the surface. Watching a big Spaniard get airborne as it smashes a surface lure is some of the best fun you can have on the water. It’s a high-energy way to fish that really rewards those who put in the effort.
Jigging for Mackerel
More guys are starting to use jigs, especially slow-pitch jigs, for mackerel. If you’re fishing around bait schools in 40 to 50 meters of water, a slow-pitch jig like an 80g Gamoku can be deadly.
Just make sure you use specialized metal hooks designed for toothy critters so you don’t get snipped. In closer reefs, like Mermaid or Palmy, try “micro-jigs” around 20-25g. They are shiny, they flutter, and mackerel absolutely love them when they are keyed in on small bait.
For more information on bag limits and seasonal closures in Queensland, make sure to check the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries before you head out.
PB Tracker – Personal Best Fishing Log
Track every unforgettable catch with this simple, easy-to-use Personal Best (PB) Fishing Log. Designed for Aussie anglers, this printable A4 page helps you record species, weight, location, bait used, conditions, and the full story behind your catch.
Perfect for saltwater, river, reef, and estuary fishing — whether you’re chasing your first PB or building a lifetime fishing record.
Stop forgetting the details… start building your fishing story.
PRO TIP: I recommend printing out a few copies and keeping them on a clipboard in the boat. It’s the best way to track your local moon and tide patterns without getting salt on your phone!
Or
You can open the PDF on your phone, tap the “Pen” icon, and you can literally write on the screen over the log table.
More Mackerel Fishing Guides
Mackerel Fishing Rigs and Lures