As the visibility of the ocean’s depths is often unknown, fishing for mackerel can be a challenging endeavor. Without the right knowledge, anglers can easily miss out on the opportunity of landing a prized mackerel. Knowing how deep to fish for mackerel and the techniques to use can have a massive impact on the success of your angling adventures. In this blog post, we take a look at how to target mackerel, including how deep to fish for mackerel, the types of tackle and lures to use, and other helpful tips and tricks. With a little bit of know-how and preparation, you could be catching mackerel in no time. Read on to find out more!
How to Catch Mackerel From a Boat
When you catch a mackerel, you can be reasonably certain that there are tons of his friends nearby waiting to jump onto your hook.
Bass love to use them as bait, and when they attack from below the shoal, the mackerel are forced to the surface. Gannets, in particular, are quick to take advantage of this situation and reveal the location of the shoals by diving. Therefore, keep an eye out for seabird activity, and you almost certainly will join them in their feast.
The best fishing method is when you know your boat is over a shoal of mackerel.
Jigging for Mackerel – or How to Catch Mackerel with Sabiki Bait Lures
With the boat drifting and the motor turned off (it might spook the mackerel otherwise), use a string of Sabiki Bait Lures together with a pear-shaped lead weight attached at the lower end of the string.
Jig it up and down while slowly lowering this until you feel a fish strike.
If you don’t hook up once you get to the seafloor, wind in a few turns and jig the lures a few times there before repeating the process until you do.
Concentrate your efforts on jigging at that level once you’ve found the fish.
A full house, as it is known, occurs frequently and isn’t always a good thing because the combined load of six mackerel pulling in different directions can be too much for the string of lures.
I removed the hooks from the second, fourth, and sixth lures (counting from the top down) to eliminate this risk, leaving me with a string of three active lures and three attractor lures. In this manner, the pulling power of six lures is still obtained without the need for six agitated mackerel.
Finding a shoal of mackerel is difficult without diving seabirds; you must go looking for them. And the areas to search are near headlands and along tide rips.
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.
FAQ
What depth are mackerel?
Mackerel typically stay at the same depth, which ranges from 8 to 20 feet. They also generally stay quite close to cliffs and walls. You probably only need to be casting out between 5 and 30 yards if you’re fishing from a pier.
What is the best month to catch mackerel?
The best time to catch mackerel is from May to June, though they are also frequently caught throughout the summer and occasionally even in the winter.
Are the mackerel in yet 2022?
In the first week of January, the 2022 mackerel season began, and Denholm Seafoods is already processing fish caught by its boat partners in the North Atlantic’s sustainable waters.
What is the best time of day to catch mackerel?
Like many species, mackerel feed best at dawn or dusk in terms of the time of day. Around these times, their prey, including small fish, sandeels, lance, shrimp, and squid, is also most active.
