How To Set Up A Mackerel Fishing Line

Fishing for mackerel is one of the nearly enjoyable summer pastimes. Ounce for ounce the mackerel is ane of the hardest fighting saltwater species. Targeting mackerel with feathers is probably the most well-known method but other methods can be very constructive also. It all depends on the conditions and what yous desire to achieve. Do you desire to stock up your freezer quickly or do you want to have some fun? In this blog post I describe v methods I use to catch mackerel, each with their pros and cons.

one. Mackerel fishing with feathers

Feathering from a pier is a popular summer activity

Targeting mackerel with feathers or daylights can be extremely constructive. All you demand is a sturdy rod, weights and some plumage rigs. A ready of feathers imitates a shoal of bait fish. A "pull and wind" retrieve gives the best action. Simply lift the rod upwards to movement the feathers upwards, so point the rod forward while you reel in the slack line. Repeat until yous hit a shoal of mackerel. These are the feathers I use near of the time. Simply you can besides make your ain, as shown in this video.

Pros

• If the mackerel are there in numbers you can grab vast quantities in very trivial time. Great when you're planning a barbecue or need to stock up on allurement.
• No need to bring any allurement.
• Depending on the weights and rod you use you can cover a lot of 'basis'.

Cons

• In snaggy areas you will lose a lot of tackle. Nothing gets snagged as easily equally 4 or more hooks on a trace.
• You don't experience the mackerel's truthful fighting potential. I mackerel on light tackle fights a lot harder than half-dozen of them on beach caster.
• This type of fishing can get repetitive pretty fast whether y'all're catching or not.
• Non very grab and release friendly, specially when you're fishing from a high construction, similar a pier. And so make sure you really need all those fish. (More about handling mackerel afterward.)

2. Bladder fishing for mackerel

This 2lb mackerel was defenseless using a float

My favourite way of communicable mackerel is with a float. Nothing beats the excitement of a float disappearing underwater. It besides means you lot can fish with light gear which makes catching mackerel a lot more fun. For detailed information on float angling in the ocean, delight read this postal service. The bladder I use almost of the time is this one.

Pros

• You lot tin embrace large areas. Just let the tide take your float.
• You tin can adapt the depth until you notice the fish.
• Nifty sport, especially when you use calorie-free tackle.
• You get snagged a lot less, making this a perfect method for rough ground fishing.
• Interesting past-catches similar pollock and garfish.

Cons

• You demand to take allurement with yous (I recommend sprats). No need to have loads of allurement though, because every bit soon equally you lot catch one mackerel you have enough of allurement for the solar day (mackerel strips are a great float fishing allurement).
• You can only grab one fish at a time, unless y'all apply the method described below.

Multi-hook mackerel float rig

Large floats work best with this method

I don't apply this rig very often because I prefer to fish calorie-free, but it tin can be a real killer when there are loads of mackerel around. For this method you lot demand a float that will take a 3 or 4oz lead. Utilise the float rig gear up equally described in this post merely without the bullet weight. Slide a bead underneath the float and attach a feather trace to your mainline (as shown in the pic). Clip the desired weight to the pb clip, bait the feathers with mackerel strips or sprats and you're gear up to become. You don't take to employ a plumage rig of class. You can also tie a multi-hook trace with the method described beneath (method 4).

The weight is clipped to the bottom of the trace

This method works best with a bass rod or light beach caster. It'due south the perfect method when you want to catch some mackerel for bait speedily. Almost of the time the mackerel volition hook themselves against the buoyancy of the float.

iii. Spinning for mackerel

Such a stunning looking fish…

Spinning is another great method to catch mackerel. No need to take loads of gear: a box of lures, a spinning rod and a reel are all yous need. Rest the tackle right and it'due south similar catching mini-tuna. Of grade the tackle yous use strongly depends on the distance you need to achieve the fish. If they're under your feet, LRF or perch tackle provide the about fun. Only if yous're using 1oz+ lures yous might want to go for something heavier. Endeavour different retrieves. Sometimes a steady recollect works best, sometimes a hasty ane.

When information technology comes to spinners there'south no need to buy annihilation fancy. I find these stinger types work really well. They're also very good for pollock. They come in different sizes so you can decide which i to use depending on h2o depth and the distance you demand to bandage. Dexter wedges work really well as well.

When the mackerel are close in you tin can fish a lot lighter. These lures work neat on LRF tackle.

Pros

• Great sport on calorie-free tackle.
• No need to bring bait or loads of gear.
• Very agile manner of angling.
• Interesting by-catches similar pollock and garfish.

Cons

• You lot get snagged a lot easier than when y'all employ a float, especially if you use treble hooks.
• Spinning can get tiring after a while, especially if you're not catching much. Of course, if you lot conduct a bit of bait with you, you can always change to a float rig and requite that a attempt.

4. Ledgering for mackerel

Just loop it on…

This method is a great 'passive' way to catch mackerel. I often prepare a 'bonus' rod for mackerel, while I'm bottom fishing for other species at the same time. You lot can't really scout the tips of your rod on the tripod and a float at the aforementioned time, so this is a great way to spread your chances. The most important role with this method is keeping the allurement off the bottom.

No knot needed

The easiest way to tie this rig is to necktie it straight from the mainline, 15lb works best. Tie the weight (2oz is enough most of the fourth dimension) to the finish of the line. Then tie a dropper loop at least 5ft above the weight, and then tie another two loops to a higher place this one, about a feet apart. Loop the hooks (size ane or 2) onto the loops and that's it. To be able to cast this rig you need a rod of a reasonable length, like a 12ft carp rod. This method works all-time when fishing close in, into good depth of water.

Pros

• Perfect method when y'all're feeling lazy. Bait upward, cast in and sit back until a shoal hits your trace.
• Skillful set upwards for an 'bonus' rod. It's always nice to grab a few mackerel when the species you're targeting don't play ball.

Cons

• Y'all need to bring bait with y'all.
• Not very suitable for rough basis. Even though the hooks are off the bottom, the weight can withal go snagged.
• Doesn't work at a distance, because the hooks will end up on the ocean bed.
• Not every bit efficient every bit the previous methods.

5. Fly line-fishing for mackerel

I have to admit I'yard not much of a wing fisherman (I mainly hook into myself or things in my surroundings) but a friend of mine has a lot of success with this method. Fly fishing for mackerel is only possible when the fish are close in and the weather is very at-home. Information technology can be extremely effective when the mackerel hunt in shallow water, as you can meet in this video.

Pros

• Very effective in shallow water.
• Smashing sport.
• No need to bring a lot of tackle.

Cons

• Merely works in calm conditions when the fish are very shut in.

Other mackerel fishing tips

Finding the mackerel

Mackerel are fairly easy to take hold of, but y'all take to discover them first. Mackerel like to hang effectually close to structures where it's easier to ambush their pray. Breakwaters, piers and rock marks are good spots to fish for mackerel. When the mackerel are hunting near the surface they are quite easy to spot. Just look for the baitfish jumping at the surface. When y'all cast into a shoal of hunting mackerel it's very hard not to catch them. If at that place are no clear signs of hunting mackerel I tend to look for shoals of sprats near the water'south edge. Once yous've found the sprats, the mackerel are usually non far away.

When to fish for mackerel

As I described in this mail the fish accept to be at that place to be able to catch them. Where I live the mackerel only show up towards the end of June. Targeting them before that is usually a waste material of fourth dimension. When they're there you tin catch mackerel pretty much during all daylight hours. The final hours before sunset tin be especially productive. If you don't have much sea angling experience and don't want to surrender fishing after the mackerel disappear, read my tips for beginners.

Hook size

Mackerel have small mouths and so if you miss a lot of bites, get down a hook size or 2. Depending on the size of your allurement, you can go downward to a size four or fifty-fifty 6.

Treatment mackerel

If you lot want to go on mackerel for the pot or for bait, dispatch them straight abroad. A firm knock on the caput with a priest works all-time. Another way to dispatch mackerel is to intermission their cervix. Put your thumb in the fish' rima oris and the rest of your hand at the back of its head and 'fold' its head towards its back. It might sound cruel, only it's one of the most humane ways to kill them.

Catch and release

Some people claim that mackerel volition die within 24 hours afterward being touched past humans because they lose the protective fungus on their scales. I doubtfulness that'southward entirely truthful, but it is true that the skin of the mackerel is quite fragile. When you concord a mackerel with dry hands, y'all're likely to remove a lot of scales and that can't be proficient in any case. And so when handling mackerel – or whatever fish you want to release – ever make certain your easily are wet.

If you can avoid holding the fish altogether, fifty-fifty improve. If y'all're shut to the h2o, yous can simply 'shake' the fish of the claw. The easiest way to practice this is by belongings the hook at the curve (upside down) with a forceps or pair of pliers. For catch and release purposes barbless single hooks are the best. They do the to the lowest degree damage and are easy to remove.

Mono or braid? Which line do yous adopt and when? Share your experiences in the comment sections below!

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How To Set Up A Mackerel Fishing Line,

Source: https://cannyangler.com/mackerel-fishing-5-ways-to-catch-mackerel/

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