Mackerel

[oldessox]

Not wanting to come across as a mackerel basher , but I often see fishing reports where the boat goes out and their first stop is to catch a few mackerel . Is this just a boat that is going miles off shore for the main fishing and just stopping somewhere inshore to catch mackerel for bait , or is there "hot spots" for mackerel ?

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

Usually for bait mate but nowt wrong with taking a few back for tea .

 

[oldessox]

Are there mackerel "marks" where they stop to catch them , or do they just stop somewhere near the shore before going off shore to fish for the main species? The reason I'm asking is I'd like to catch some on a fly rod when I get out this summer , but I don't fancy casting all day looking for them.
We caught quite a few last year on daylights , but they didn't seem to be in any particular place , we'd hit a few then not see any for a while then hit a few more.
The cod and pollack were on the hard ground , we could sort of target them , but the mackerel just seemed to be nowhere in particular. Is there a way to find them?

Ray

 

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

The sounder can show a shoal in mid water ( if you trust it ) ,you'll get better information from the lads that really know ( the skippers ) tomorrow mate .

 

[mark]

aye bait stops just outside the piers are almost the norm with some boats as its an almost guaranteed mackie spot

 

[Norman]

july, august and sept mainly, on the seaward edge of the tidal outflow from the piers. However they`re abundant almost everywhere especially mid water above wrecks.

 

[mark]

Are there mackerel "marks" where they stop to catch them , or do they just stop somewhere near the shore before going off shore to fish for the main species? The reason I'm asking is I'd like to catch some on a fly rod when I get out this summer , but I don't fancy casting all day looking for them.
We caught quite a few last year on daylights , but they didn't seem to be in any particular place , we'd hit a few then not see any for a while then hit a few more.
The cod and pollack were on the hard ground , we could sort of target them , but the mackerel just seemed to be nowhere in particular. Is there a way to find them?

Ray

What I've done in the past is keep a fly rod ready rigged on board then watch for the odd times when you see a flock of birds attacking a bait ball of fish on the water and make for them, or when we're getting full houses of mackerel elsewhere break the fly rod out.

 

[oldessox]

That's what I decided would be the best option (wait till they show then break out the fly rod) if I couldn't tie them down to one spot. The mid water over a wreck sounds good ,and the birds working , I guess it's going to be a "play it by ear" job.
Last year I just had the sounder on my boat but I've got a plotter on there now so (in theory :red I should be able to find things like wrecks and drop offs etc.
A lot of my fun in fishing comes from planning my attack , just as well with sea fishing ,seem to spend more time planning than fishing , i would have had a go at the sea this weekend but the weather forcast aint so good so i guess it's off to look for pike and perch in a loch somewhere.
Thanks for the replies!

Ray.

 

[Norman]

yeah mate , think your right about the weather this weekend, not looking too good .........
mind you don`t think I`d like to be driving anywhere either as the roads this bank hol will be diabolical .......

 

[gazzawill]

with the easterly/northeasterly winds this weekend it still looks promising by the swells on magic seaweed norman
i take a look at water then decide myself forcasts and swells predictions are always wrong
weve finished painting /sorting engines out ect on our boat were waiting on the maiden voyage of this season