your feathers out. Allow them to sink to the bottom and then by holding your rod high, wind in until the feathers are a few feet off the sea bed. Then by jigging the rod in an upward and downward motion while retrieving your feathers, will see your feathers flutter through the water columns like fleeing baitfish.
An iconic summertime species and a favorite of both shore- and boat-based anglers The common mackerel is a welcome catch for both eating and using as bait. It also makes for excellent sport when fished with light gear. This schooling pelagic fish can be abundant and simple to catch when it’s present. Here are some pointers for kayak fishing them:
Scomber scombrus – the Atlantic mackerel
Around the UK’s coast, Atlantic mackerel are a plentiful baitfish that become a well-liked target during the warmer months when the fish move inshore to feed on plankton and pursue smaller baitfish like sand eels. Mackerel are members of the tuna family, and these fish are built for speed. They are also great fun to catch, and if caught on well-balanced light gear they will certainly put up a great fight. They have a sleek, torpedo-shaped body that is packed with muscle and propels a stiff tail fin at high speed. They are quite beautiful too. An underside that shimmers silvery-white transitions to a topside that is green and blue and is pierced by wavy black lines. Fresh from the water they look awesome!.
To catch some fresh mackerel for your tea, you really don’t need a lot of equipment, as they are a fairly simple target for kayak anglers.
How to catch mackerel: The best tackle, rods, poles and reels for mackerel fishing
Megabucks rods aren’t typically necessary when it comes to the best fishing equipment for catching mackerel; instead, a 10-13ft (3-05-3) 65m) rod suitable for casting 3-6 oz of medium-power saltwater beach or surf. You can combine this with a spinning reel of sizes 6000 to 8000 or an equivalent multiplier to create a reliable mackerel fishing setup that even novices will find simple to use.
A freshwater rod can also be used, and models geared toward catching carp, pike, and catfish are suitable. Something around 12ft (3. A 3oz weight is suggested for casting at a comfortable test-curve of 3-4 lb (approximately 6-m). Large fixed-spool reels and large pit-style reels are also suitable tackle for fishing for mackerel, but if you use equipment designed for freshwater, make sure to give it a thorough wash in warm soapy water afterward to prevent rust and seizing problems.
Therefore, for general mackerel fishing gear from a beach or pier, we prefer the 12 feet or longer rod option coupled with a large reel filled with approximately 12 pounds (5 kilograms) of line. 20lb (9kg) braided main line or monofilament that is stronger (between 30 and 60 lb) to serve as a casting leader. View our guide to the best fishing line to help you make your decision. The setup is finished with a string of high-quality mackerel feathers, a sabiki rig, and the appropriate weight.
Reaching mackerel shoals typically only requires a 3 oz (85 gm) distance lead, but if your rod and tackle can handle it, don’t be afraid to go much heavier to reach a more distant shoal. A long cast and heavy weight aren’t always necessary because they can occasionally swim within a few yards of the shore as they wreck havoc on their prey.
A finger stool protects your index finger from repeated casting. A priest quickly handles mackerel that will be used as food or as winter pike bait. Kill those fish firmly but swiftly to avoid prolonged suffering and immediately place them on ice to maintain freshness. Due to the high oil content, be aware that they will quickly spoil if left out in the sun or at room temperature.
Your tackle options are much wider when fishing from a boat because casting is not necessary when you drop the rig over the side; instead, you simply reel up and down the water column. A short 6–8ft (1. 8–2. The best boat fishing equipment for mackerel will consist of a rod (45m) rated for 10-20lb line and a small multiplier loaded with either 10-20lb monofilament or 20-30lb braid.
How to catch mackerel: The best lures, feathers and baits for mackerel fishing
Mackerel are true shoal fish, so they don’t have much time to think about a potential meal, which makes them very easy to catch using relatively basic equipment. Successful mackerel fishing techniques include using a float and small strips of bait, as well as a small, shiny lure like a spoon, spinner, or baitfish imitation. But all methods are beaten by a string of feathers or a small lure.
Around six hooks make up a string of mackerel feathers, and each one is decorated to look like a small fish or other food item moving in the water. Old-fashioned larger, rainbow-colored feathers mounted on large, crude hooks are no longer as effective at luring bites as smaller, more contemporary alternatives.
The best choice for replicating the tiny sandeels that mackerel frequently eat is a hook size of between four and 1/0 with a small amount of bright or dark dressing (yellow, silver, red, black, and dark green are really effective). The modern equivalent of the mackerel feather, also referred to as a sabiki rig, is made up of several hooks that are each adorned with a tiny piece of material that mimics bait, such as a piece of fish skin or some shiny threads like tinsel. These will catch lots of mackerel.
If you’re fishing for mackerel from a pier or beach, make sure the rig is strong enough to cast the total weight of the lead or rig, keeping in mind that you need about 10 lb of breaking strain for every ounce you’re likely to cast. Therefore, a rig constructed with 20 lb line would function well with a 2 oz weight, 30 lb for a 3 oz weight, and so on.
If you want to catch mackerel, a good expert tip is to substitute a bright metal jig or baitfish-imitating lure for the standard weight at the bottom of the rig. This enhances the rig with an additional attractant and will draw mackerel in as it flutters through the water during retrieval or dropping off a boat.
Another excellent tip for fishing for mackerel is to add tiny strips of fish or squid to the sabiki or feather rigs to improve the flavor and smell of the bait in the water. On hard days, this can really make a difference. When something tastes authentic, Mackerel seem more eager to bite and hold onto it.
FAQ
What can you catch with mackerel feathers?
TRUE MACKEREL FEATHERS are typically strung together in sets of four or six lures. If the mackerel shoals are dense enough to make fishing simple, these prove ideal for quickly capturing large numbers of baitfish. They can also be utilized over reefs for smaller pollack and coalfish.
