For Spanish mackerel, the trolling speed should be between five and seven knots. No matter how many ball bearing swivels you employ, the 15-pound leader is going to rotate at this pace. Having one in the mix will help to slow down the inevitable, but it will not prevent the twisting from occurring.
What do you use to troll for Spanish mackerel?
The trolling tackle you need to catch Spanish mackerel: a 0 Huntington Drone spoon tied directly to 30 feet of 15-pound mono line. The line is wrapped around a leader spool then attached to a ball bearing snap swivel. The snap swivel can be attached to either a trolling sinker or a a #1 Huntington planer.
What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel?
The top two live baits for Spanish mackerel fishing are live shrimp and live bait fish. The most effective live bait fish are the families of small silvery fish such as scaled sardines, Spanish sardines, and threadfin herring. Shrimp are available at local bait shops.
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 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 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.
What pound leader is mackerel?
Fluorocarbon leaders that range from 25 to 50 pound test line have become common for Spanish mackerel fishing. Because most Spanish mackerel will be in the 2 to 3 pound range, you will most likely only need 8 to 12 pound test line as your main line, which is why the leader is so important.
What is the pound leader of Spanish mackerel?
You can’t catch any fish if you don’t get any bites, and the only thing worse than getting broken off by a mackerel is not hooking into one at all. He typically uses 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader for Spanish mackerel, although he will go with something heavier if there are kings around.
How do you target Spanish mackerel?
How to Target Spanish Mackerel
- Try using a small gold spoon.
- Watch for those gray-hounding fish.
- Use as fast a retrieve as you can, and if you’re trolling, bump the speed up to eight or even nine knots.
- Use weight or a planer to get a lure down beneath the surface.
- Watch for birds.
What size hooks for Spanish mackerel?
If you are targeting the smaller mackerel species like Spanish Mackerel or Cero Mackerel, then you can use a 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook. Both of these mackerel species will readily eat live bait, dead bait and lures. Lures are usually the best way to catch them as long as you fish them very fast and erratically.
What is the best time to catch mackerel?
The best time to catch mackerel is dusk or dawn and at high tide. Spring high tides are often the best as they push bait fish closer into shore and the mackerel follow them in. Mackerel can be caught anytime, however.
How far offshore are Spanish mackerel?
Spanish can be found in anywhere from 5 to 20 feet of water, and sometimes deeper. This means you might have to really get your lure out there, especially if you are fishing from the beach.
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.
What is the best time of day to fish for Spanish mackerel?
Even though Spanish mackerel may be caught at any time of the day, many knowledgeable fishermen concentrate their efforts during the early morning and late evening hours, which are the best times for catching this species.
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.
How fast is a Spanish mackerel?
about 5.5 meters per second
Spanish Mackerels are one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean, clocking at about 5.5 meters per second on average. They swim in large groups or schools that can stretch up to 20 miles. They can live up to twenty-five years in the wild. As with other mackerel species, Spanish Mackerels are often caught for food.
How fast do you troll live bait?
2- to 4-knot
Live-bait fishing requires slow (2- to 4-knot) speeds, allowing live baits to swim naturally.
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.
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 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.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.