In fall, they migrate south in two separate groups; one group migrates east and south along the Florida coast, and the other group migrates west and south along the Texas coast. The eastern group spends the winter in south Florida.
Visit our dedicated markets page to learn more about how we deliver mackerel to customers around the world.
Fish can be quickly cooled to 0°C on our ships, which are equipped with the newest technology. Our most popular exports of Norwegian mackerel are frozen whole fish and frozen fillets.
Since Norwegians have depended on the sea for centuries, it should not be surprising that we have perfected the process. We find the fish using the most up-to-date electronic sonar equipment, and then our skilled fishermen begin reeling them in. The most popular technique we employ is a purse seine, a sizable scooped netting apparatus made to enclose a school of fish. The purse seine is then drawn inward by a wire, which also reduces the opening. The fishermen can now pull the fish onto the ship thanks to this.
Our entire fishing industry is watched to ensure that our high standards for quality and safety are upheld, from purse seine to plate.
Sprat and other small fish are abundant in the cold, clear waters where Norwegian mackerel spends its entire life swimming. The mackerel is large, fatty, and flavorful by the time the shoals reach the Norwegian coast. We call this the premium catch period.
Other baits used include garfish, scad, sand eels and squid. Mackerel typically strike hard and quickly when attacking bait on a float. When the float quickly sinks, the vast majority of people will strike and your float will fall quickly. I would wait a little while to see what happens if the float is only briefly under water before popping back up.
Few people are aware of this, but when unhooking a mackerel to throw back, never hold the sides of the fish while doing so. The mackerel depends on the scales on your hands or clothing to regulate its body temperature; if it loses those scales, it will perish in a day or two.
People frequently cast their feathers as far as they can, but the mackerel are frequently not far out at sea but rather right under your feet. Frequently, all you need to do to catch them is slowly raise and lower your rod while dropping the line into the water below you. The bottom of the sea bed is where mackerel tend to be, so let it drop to the bottom, move it around halfway up, and then begin raising and lowering your rod.
If your setup is light, you shouldn’t use more than three feathers. When I refer to a “light set up,” I mean using inexpensive rod and reel or a spinning rod as examples of the equipment. Use no more feathers than your equipment can support. The weight of six mackerel on the line can be supported by a large beach caster equipped with a powerful multiplier or fixed spool reel.
Seasonal fish, mackerel typically enters our waters in late spring and departs in early autumn. BUT. The mackerel have been arriving in late September and remaining through January or February for the past two years. All through the winter, people have been catching mackerel, and I have personally seen shoals of them in January.
Find the first boat to announce its intention to hunt for mackerel this month, and be sure to show up early. If you can, get a seat near the bow. Check that everything is functioning properly, and place your cooler close to where you are fishing. I usually begin with 8 ounces of lead and increase or decrease it based on the drift’s speed, whether I’m fishing under the boat, etc.
My first winter mackerel trip took place on the Norma-K III out of Point Pleasant in the early 1990s during a college Christmas break (sometime between Christmas and New Year’s). Whiting fishing was winding down, ling fishing was sluggish, and mackerel or tautog were the only options left. The objective that day was to first catch mackerel before moving closer to shore to target blackfish.
Bring a variety of rigs with various numbers and colors of teasers on them. You’ll need a few diamond jigs with red or dark green tails, as well as a variety of sinkers ranging from 6 to 16 ounces; typically, AVA 47s or 67s work great for this, and they can be switched out for your sinker if you want to add another mackerel to your stringer.
Remember to bring a large cooler filled with ice, and be sure to dress for the weather. When you wear bibs, you can maintain a reasonable level of dryness while the bothersome mackerel scales will only partially contaminate your jacket or sweatshirt underneath the bibs.
If you want to catch fish for consumption or to use as bait for the upcoming shark and fluke season, this is a fantastic winter fishery that can also help you beat cabin fever. If a boat is currently promoting the mackerel, try it out.
FAQ
Where do mackerel go in winter UK?
While mackerel found near the western shores migrate out to the continental slope, overwintering over a vast area, North Sea mackerel spend the winter in deep water to the east and north of Shetland and on the edge of the Norway Deep.
Are the mackerel in yet 2022 UK?
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 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 Ireland?
By Fisheries Management Notice, the 2022 Mackerel Hook & Line fishery will begin on May 1, 2022, for all eligible vessels that are under 15 meters in length overall.