What Speed Do You Troll For Spanish Mackerel?

between five and seven knots.
Trolling speed for Spanish mackerel is between five and seven knots. At this speed the 15-pound leader is going to twist no matter how many ball bearing swivels you use. Having one in the mix will slow down the inevitable, but it won’t stop the twisting.

How much line should you let out when trolling for Spanish mackerel?

A typical trolling spread for Spanish mackerel is 4 or 5 lines with most below the surface and one on the surface. Some fishermen use all planers or all trolling sinkers, but I like to begin with a mixture of them.

How do you rig a Spanish mackerel for trolling?

The idea is to thread each tag end slightly off center, then tie the ends tightly together under the fish’s mouth so that the mouth is held shut and the hook lies exactly dead center on top of the head. The hook should be close to the nose for skip baits and directly above the front of the eyes for a swimming bait.

What is the perfect trolling speed?

The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.

What is the best time to catch Spanish mackerel?

February is a prime time for catching Spanish mackerel since a ban on gill netting in 1995.

What size leader should I use for Spanish mackerel?

He typically uses 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader for Spanish mackerel, although he will go with something heavier if there are kings around. If he’s targeting kings, he normally uses #3 wire leader.

How deep do you troll for Spanish mackerel?

What depth do you troll for Spanish mackerel? Generally speaking, I find that Spanish mackerel prefer depths of roughly 30 metres, however I have caught them at depths as little as 9 metres and as deep as 60 metres.

What depth do you troll for mackerel?

Most opt to troll at around 5-6Kts and run a selection of colours to see what is hot on a particular day.

What is the pound leader of Spanish mackerel?

Because most Spanish mackerel are going to weigh just a couple of pounds, fishermen usually like to use lighter tackle when trolling for these fish. Anglers typically use medium action rods with 8 to 12 pound test line and a wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon leader (25 to 50 pound test line) to avoid bite-offs.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

20 feet to 150 feet
Bait Position and Distance Behind Boat
Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

How much line should you let out when trolling?

Let out 50 feet of line and clip into the release. If that’s not enough distance to prevent your lake’s wary walleyes from seeing the ball…then let out 150 feet of line! Just remember, the flat-line diving depth of your crankbait still applies behind the ball!

Should you troll with or against the current?

7. When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.

What do Spanish mackerel bite on?

Spanish mackerel will eat just about anything including sardines, mullet, cut bait, squid, and shrimp. They prefer quickly moving bait, but when they’re feeding they are not particularly picky. Seasoned anglers will always keep shiny spoons and other heavy metal lures on hand.

Is Spanish mackerel hard to catch?

Spanish are typically very easy to catch when they are around, they fight hard, they taste great and they are easy to clean. So, Spanish mackerel are an ideal game fish for recreational anglers.

What temperature do Spanish mackerel like?

FISHING FROM BOATS
Lloyd Eastlack, a former charter boat captain who now runs a tackle shop, said that he starts looking for Spanish mackerel to show up in the spring when the water temperature off the beach breaks through the 70-degree mark, with 72- to 73-degree water marking the best fishing.

What bait is best for mackerel?

The best bait for catching mackerel is either a sandeel or strip of mackerel, but lures are also highly effective. I recommend the spinners listed on this page alongside Japanese Sabiki feathers for more hook ups. Fishing with baited mackerel feathers allows you to catch mackerel as well as other species.

Should you bleed Spanish mackerel?

If you want the cleanest, most delicious fillets possible, then you should bleed your fish. To do that, just cut through the artery between their gills and put them on ice.

What tide is best for Spanish mackerel?

An early spring high tide is the greatest time to go mackerel fishing. These are the tides that occur when the difference between high and low water is at its highest, and the flow of water is at its greatest intensity. When the tides are high, bait fish are pushed closer to shore, and mackerel follow them in.

Are Spanish mackerel leader Shy?

Spanish mackerel have sharp teeth, but they are leader shy. If you must use a leader, it ought to be of clear monofilament. I prefer to tie the lure directly onto the running line.

What water temperature is best for Spanish mackerel?

They’ll search for temperatures between 68 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit that are pleasant for them, whether they’re deep or shallow.

What size lures for Spanish mackerel?

1/0 is a good all-around size. Artificial lures can certainly be used when drifting the grass flats as well. Spoons, plugs, and jigs all work well when fan cast out in front of a drifting boat. Spanish mackerel are attracted to fast-moving flashy lures.