not long for mackerl ?

[anthony stobbart]

not long for the mackerl ,maybe be a better year than last year was crap, as one day they were there and then gone for weeks.even the big coalies have gone,so may be this year will be a better one.but now temperture is keep changing up and down and the lack of fish does nothing for us the fisherman.

[northeast1]

4 weeks till they hit the shore i would say at best, 3 weeks for bats but last year they came very late 3rd week in June.

[Funkmeister_Smith]

Heard in the local bait shop that people were catching them already just a few miles out. Whether its true or not I don't know! :s

Itching for them to arrive though and get my first boat-full!! I've been eagerly awaiting a post on here saying they're here!!

[wearuk53]

Well wish some fish would bite we went out today for a few hours not a bite just using rag and squid first season boat fishing but so far its been a waste of time what with engine trouble, steering and no fish, and its cost me a fortune so far in repair bills......

Just one fish would do or a few bites lol

[northeast1]

Doubt it the inshore trawlers not getting more than a couple in the nets at the moment and we not had a settled spell really, been alot of north and north east winds since the gates opened at the Royal Quays

[Falcone]

I was out yesterday for a few hours, only managed to winkle out 1 codling at around 3 and a half lbs, my mate who i was fishing with hooked into something he was adamant it was a mackeral, but we never got to find out as it got away before we could get a glimpse.
Think we are going to need a long settled spell of weather before we start hitting them.

[<(Andy2009)>]

thats a canny codling from the shore for this time of year!

[Falcone]

It was from the boat mate.

[<(Andy2009)>]

ps!! mind, still a nice fish anywhere u catch it.

[danny boy]

Yep...not long before the butchery starts for another year...

Just a tip to all you mackerel anglers who do it with a string of feathers, beachcaster and big reel....try floatfishing, or a spinner on very light tackle - you'll enjoy it much more, guarenteed!

I got them on fly kit last year off the beach in Norfolk - i just wish they went into double-figures...I'd fish for nowt else!

There's no skill or fun in feathering...

I feather for mackeral at the start of the season just to fill the freezer then i go on the spinner and float but always return them back to the water

[Funkmeister_Smith]

Yep...not long before the butchery starts for another year...

True And not just Mackerel either. I was down Blyth pier a few weeks back and there was a few kids on the end spinning with feathers and on just about every cast they were dragging up foul hooked coalies, through the eye, back, stomach.. I actually felt sorry for the poor buggers, I hate having to kill a fish for no reason. I also read an interesting post somewhere about not to handle any mackerel you intend to throw back as it is harmful to their skin and they could end up dead within days! I'll be adhering to that rule too!

I'll be using single spinners mainly, much more fun than jigging all the time I would have to agree with you there. I've never tried float fishing in the sea though. This may sound a daft question, but would you be float fishing using bait or lures for mackerel?

[jimmy]

seeing as i dont need many this year i am just using my fly gear for them, never done it before but imagine it should be excellent

[Funkmeister_Smith]

seeing as i dont need many this year i am just using my fly gear for them, never done it before but imagine it should be excellent

I've been wanting to get into fly fishing for a while but I am totally crap at it. I might just give it a shot at the sea to get some practice in where there aren't any seasoned fly fishers to laugh at me thrashing the water to a foam! I imagine a mackerel would give a nice fly fishing experience.

[paulthespark]

I'll be using single spinners mainly, much more fun than jigging all the time I would have to agree with you there. I've never tried float fishing in the sea though. This may sound a daft question, but would you be float fishing using bait or lures for mackerel? [/QUOTE]
use a mackerel float with a fluorescent orange or lime green top half you need this because in the sunlight with a bit of a chop on the sea, it is some times really difficult to see the float, a ball lead appropriate to the float size, test the float and lead in the bath to make sure the lead is not to heavy,under the lead fix your hook at about two foot you can fish it straight through or use a swivel about 6 inches after the lead [i always fish straight through] use 8 to 10 lbs line or less if you want and set your depth between 10 to 20 foot depending on what depth the fish are feeding, use a 1.0 or 2.0 hook size and bait up with a 2 to 3 inch piece of mackerel belly or squid or even a whole sprat or sand eel, and don't strike till the float goes right under

[danny boy]

I'll be using single spinners mainly, much more fun than jigging all the time I would have to agree with you there. I've never tried float fishing in the sea though. This may sound a daft question, but would you be float fishing using bait or lures for mackerel?

i use sprat at the start of the season, then use macky danny

use a mackerel float with a fluorescent orange or lime green top half you need this because in the sunlight with a bit of a chop on the sea, it is some times really difficult to see the float, a ball lead appropriate to the float size, test the float and lead in the bath to make sure the lead is not to heavy,under the lead fix your hook at about two foot you can fish it straight through or use a swivel about 6 inches after the lead [i always fish straight through] use 8 to 10 lbs line or less if you want and set your depth between 10 to 20 foot depending on what depth the fish are feeding, use a 1.0 or 2.0 hook size and bait up with a 2 to 3 inch piece of mackerel belly or squid or even a whole sprat or sand eel, and don't strike till the float goes right under[/QUOTE]