TO FISH: The mackerel tree rig is used while trolling for king mackerel. You may either drag it over the surface of the water (which is preferred) or link it to a planer or trolling sinker for added depth.
What month is best for mackerel fishing?
May-June is the best time to catch mackerel, although they are caught all summer in numbers and larger specimens are sometimes caught in winter.
Do you need wire trace for mackerel?
Mackerel are toothy critters so it’s wise to make and use a wire trace, especially when fishing for mackerel with trolled lures.
What is the best fishing line for mackerel?
15 lb monofilament line
Use 15 lb monofilament line or better still 15 lb braid. Then it is a case of tying on your rig or lure. Heavier gear can be used but you will not feel so much of the fight. Mackerel are fairly ferocious predators, especially when in a school.
What size hooks for mackerel?
Hook size. Mackerel have small mouths so if you miss a lot of bites, go down a hook size or two. Depending on the size of your bait, you can go down to a size 4 or even 6.
What lures attract mackerel?
“The most effective way of catching mackerel here is to use a string of lures or feathers. These basic lures are retrieved erratically through the water, mimicking small baitfish such as sand eels, which are the staple diet of mackerel. Plain white through to vivid day-glo orange colors work best here.
What colours are mackerel attracted to?
Lures in the 20 cm range are popular with the red/white Qantas colour scheme and blues and greens being present in most avid mackerel angler’s tackle boxes. Check the quality of rings and hooks before using them and consider using a second split ring with hooks.
What tide is best for mackerel fishing?
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 good eating?
Spanish mackerel, an especially good eating finfish, produces an attractive plate-size cutlet or an essentially boneless fillet. Mackerel can be fried, baked, poached, grilled, marinated, smoked and barbecued—it is considered by some to be the best barbecue fish in the South Pacific and Asia.
What is the difference between Spanish mackerel and mackerel?
Both are long, slender fish with a forked tail and bronze-colored spots on the body. But the Spanish mackerel features a black spot on the first dorsal fin that the king mackerel lacks. Also, the king mackerel has a pronounced dip in the lateral line below the second dorsal fin.
What does Spanish mackerel taste like?
Market Description: The firm, dark flesh of the mackerel is fatty and rich with a strong, sweet flavor. The high fat content of the meat should not deter you–most of this is “good” fat rich in Omega-3 oils; only a trace amount is of the cholesterol variety.
What depth do you fish mackerel?
Mackerel generally remain at the same depth which is between 8ft to 20ft. They also generally stay quite close to cliffs and walls. If you’re fishing from a pier then you will probably only need to be casting out between 5 to 30 yards.
What size mackerel can you keep?
Mackerel are great to eat but remember that the minimum size to retain mackerel is 30cm, and while it can be easy to catch many mackerel in a session only take what will be eaten or used as bait.
Where do mackerel go in winter?
Mackerel is a migrating fish and it swims in large shoals near the surface. During the winter season, the fish live near the seabed off the southwest coast of Norway, and in this period they eat very little. This changes between April and May, when the mackerel swim to the central parts of the North Sea to spawn.
How do you use mackerel for pike?
Two packs of Mackerel.
A tried and tested bait, with a reasonably tough skin. If you need to cast any distance, hook through the tail bone and body. Mackerel is a good safe bet in the bait stakes.
Is mackerel a good bait for bass?
Medium Mackerel Baits: Larger strips of 9 – 12cm (3 – 4½ inches) can be used if larger species are being targeted. Strips of this size can catch species such as rays, bull huss and larger bass, and is an under-rated bait for winter cod.
How do you remove a mackerel?
Returning Fish with Hooks Still in their Mouths
If fish are too deeply hooked to unhook then there is usually no alternative other than to cut the hooks away. Simply cut the line as close to the eye of the hook as possible and release the fish in the usual manner .
What speed should you troll for mackerel?
The secret to more effective Mackerel trolling is speed. If you want to catch more Mackerel on lures, troll faster. While 6 knots is okay, 7, 8, 9 or 10 knots is even better. The faster you can troll, the more likely you are to get connected.
How fast do you troll for 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 fast do you trawl for mackerel?
As for a trolling speed, I would recommend around 4-6 knots, however, if you are finding fish on your sounder and not getting strikes, speeding up to 8 knots can be very effective.
Do I need a leader for mackerel?
Do you need a leader for mackerel? Spanish mackerel aren’t very large, but they can eat through a line in a matter of seconds. Because of their razor-sharp fangs, leaders are an absolute necessity.
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