Mackerel as bait

andyco

Well-known member
Popping out for a couple of hours tonight or tomorrow night , but haven't got any bait other than a bit of Mackerel in the fridge. Is there any point fishing with just mackerel as bait?
 
Good bait for whiting in the autumn/winter. Also works for coalies, doggies and eels. I've had pollack and cod on it too but only on rare occasions.
 
seriously everything take mackerel mate fish aint fussy, it's pretty much the only thing i fish with (apart from the cod then i switch to lug and mussel). flatties and coalies love it and the small tommys too. which is mostly whats kicking about at the moment. i used to fish both rag and makky side by side and it nearly always outfishes the rag so i just stopped wasting the money on the rag. cheap too so you're laughing.
 
Thanks again for all the advice, didn't manage to get out tonight, but probably will tomorrow night, see if I can get anything with the mackerel. Would it be best to use it with a weight, or off a float?
 
if you're in the river try it nailed to the bottom. if your on blyth or shields try strips 12ft down on a float, had a lot of success with that method recently for lots of coalies
 
Went to the glass centre for a few hours tonight using the mackerel, under a float for a bit, then on a 2 hook flapper. Got some rag off a couple of lads coming in on a boat as well . Didn't catch owt, but had some nibbles on the bait, probably crabs. Another lad there had caught a coalie, but nowt else.
 
Went to the glass centre for a few hours tonight using the mackerel, under a float for a bit, then on a 2 hook flapper. Got some rag off a couple of lads coming in on a boat as well . Didn't catch owt, but had some nibbles on the bait, probably crabs. Another lad there had caught a coalie, but nowt else.

Crab, crab and more crab in the rivers this time of year mate if you can get your hands on it

Mackerel fishes well through the tyne with ragworm but personally wouldn't use it in the wear
 
Was fishing this morning just with mackerl and ragworm also but got all my fish on mackerl strip ,was fishing rat house got 11 coleys and 2 flounders not a touch on the ragworm so yeah you never know if you dont try
 
Macky for bait in river can be hit r miss had 26 flatty down st.peters 6 over 1.2 pound using only macky mate had size cod at blyth using it to had a 2pd coaly at smiths aswell it fishes well down fish quay North Shields too whiting love it..but on other hand it can be hopeless n just end up with crab after crab wherever u use it
 
I agree with ozzy37, mackerel is a great bait for quite a few fish. I have taken Coalies, flatties, one dog fish and loads of whiting on it. Never had a Cod though. :rolleyes:
 
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