Mackerel on the fly

[Jimmy Fisher]

Hi all, does anyone on here fish for mackerel on the fly? If so what marks do they come in close enough to target with a fly rod? Hoping to bag a couple on a light setup.

[BAZACODBASHA]

Hi mate,
"Snap".....something I've always wanted to ahieve myself. I've been lucky enough to catch a school bass on a fly from an open beach, but like yourself I have struggled to come up with a mark suitable for mackerel.
I did try Dunstanburgh point last year, which at low water you can access fairly flat rocks and cast into very deep water. However that particular morning, there were no mackerel around (close in anyway). I did catch a large launce which got my heart racing for a second as it gave a good 'take'.
Trouble is finding somewhere where you can get away from the crowds, and although Dunstanburgh looks an ideal location, it can get busy. Nothing worse than that long walk only to find it crowded out.
Might try Beadnell this season.
One thing I have invested in (and I think it is a 'MUST' for sal****er fly fishing) is a fly line tray. This gathers your line in a tray attached to your waist, so your line isn't getting washed away in the waves, or worse getting wrapped around barnacle encrusted rocks.hence ruining your line. Just be carefull when you are walking on the rocks, 'cos if your wearing a tray it can restrict your vision when looking down at your feet.
Good luck mate........hope your successful.

[phill_itofish]

Never tried with a fly but had Mackey of Whitley pipe on low water with a spinner a few years back

[bigroppa]

Lynemouth beach 1hr b4 and 1hr after high water on a mid to large tide. Fish the pipe behind the alcan, there is a canny platform to fish off and if ur feeling brave u can even walk along the pipe. Doesnt get that busy down there. Sea has to be flat.

[joostan]

That sounds like so much fun but as BAZACODBASHA mentioned I cannot see how to bring them to the surface. Personally I am going to use a light spinning rod and see what that's like.

[korky65]

alreet bud, ive done this in sw scotland around the mull of galloway a few times, as the waters deep off the rocks and the mackies come right in, you can also encounter pollack,coalies and bass with this method,what you will need is a decent flyrod about wf 8 and either a slow sinking or intermediate line, 10 to 12lb leader and something like a decent size cats whisker type fly white and streamline to resemble a small fish fished with a varied retrive. give it a go its great on a nice summer night be patient and you will catch once you find the crucial depth. tight lines and all the best korky..

[<(Andy2009)>]

Hi mate.

I too am gonna have a go at it this year. You need around a 10wt fly rod (n getting a shakespeare expidition) and a fly reel that's good enough to handle everchanging sal****er conditions.

I highly recommend either an intermediate or sinking line, and for fly??. What else... a single daylite!!

Venue wise, the best place for me will be an open space with plenty room to cast and offers deep-ish water when fishing, and that venue is the groyne.

[tich]

hi mate, I dont know were you live, Whitley Bay pipe is a good spot, it`s a low water mark at the south end of W/Bay beech, just down from the Rex Hotel, its a flat area ideal for fly fishing, your very close to the water, as said I would take a casting tray, or put some news paper down to avoid snags on the rocks, you can normaly get onto the pipe 2 hours eather side of low water, your best bet is to go down earlier than that & walk down the pipe as the tide goes out, fish off the end if you can ,there always a few lads on the end during the mackeral season, but thers always a few spots you can fish on the bend, casting towards the lighthouse, take another rod with you its a canny spot for flatties, watch your back as the tide comes in as it can cut you off,,,

[RobAdair]

An 8/9wt stiff actioned flyrod about 9ft long (Bloke Bass Special is my weapon of choice) with a good intermediate or sinking line (or shooting heads if you can handle them) and a reel that won't get knacked with salty water (try Okuma graphite models if you're not made of money). Fly should be light and bright (preferably white with plenty of "flash" or purely "flash") or you can try sandeel imitation if you're a purist. Either way they should be tied onto a fluorocarbon leader of 10-15lb. Dawn and dusk are probably the best times, look for feeding seabirds or "boiling water" which indicates underwater activity (ie predatory fish attacking a shoal of sandeel). Any deep water marks will produce on the day, but don't fall off Shields Pier like my mate did!!

[hardy man]

i havent tried this myself but a mate of mine climbs on to the blocks at south shields early morning says he has had a load

[Jimmy Fisher]

Cheers for all the replies folks, kit wise I'm fairly sorted, most of my bass fly fishing is done with my NRX crosscurrent and Tibor Everglades, both sal****er kit, however for mackerel I would maybe down scale my kit, don't want to be over gunned. I'm currently living in Dorset but as my pub is in the process of going belly up I am making plans to return to my hometown, Sunderland for a few months. However I can't for the life of me think of any real deep water venues to try out on the fly ( that don't get mobbed ). I will keep you posted with my progress and if anyone wants to meet up for a little fluff chucking for some sal****er predators?

[peter.m]

Was fishing Cullernose a few years back and a lad came down and took plenty mackerel of the front of the point on a spinner so should be good spot for fly. Also a chance of coalie or decent pollock.

[codcatcher3000]

sal****er ?lol just need to test

[Jimmy Fisher]

Lol! Censored! It works well!

[Charlie_Thompson]

Got to be easyish off a boat if you've enough room for a couple of back casts. Lead core line and a white and green cats whisker.