Easy to catch on lures and floatfished baits, mackerel provide excellent sport for anglers in the summer months. This makes them a good species to target if youre bringing the kids or spouse fishing. They are a terrific game fish that is widely distributed throughout the state. Look for them on the deeper grass flats and on the first hard bottom just offshore. Other baits used include garfish, scad, sand eels and squid. Dec 05, 2008 frozen mackerel is excellent bait for socal cats. Fishing for mackerel three great methods sea angler. At the very least it would be a good way to catch bait for fishing. The reason i recommend the two rods below is because of the moderatetoslow action they have soft tips. A 7 foot medium light rod with a fast action paired with a 3000 series spinning reel is an excellent combination.
This is what the almanacs best fishing days are based on. The same inshore tackle used for speckled trout, snuck, redfish, and other species will do fine when chasing mackerel. Herring are readily available from supermarkets and fishmongers, while live specimens are caught in large numbers off some north east piers by anglers feathering for mackerel. Typically living out in the ocean, they come into shore in the fall and can easily be targeted off docks and from shore. Joe says anglers have been pounding spanish mackerel inshore and offshore. Aug 14, 2017 set the hook quickly when chunking mackerel, especially if small fish are around. Apr 03, 2019 perfect for kids, mackerel can be easily caught by trolling. The number one thing i tell people when it comes to choosing a shark bait is to fish the bait that is in the area. King mackerel belong to the family scombridae, or mackerel family as you may well have guessed. Nov 22, 2017 florida fishing girl darcizzle goes offshore fishing in the deep sea. William toney of homosassa inshore fishing charters 3526219284. How to catch spanish mackerel in the surf fishing intelligence. One of the best kingfish lures or bait rig setup is the pirate plug from south chathum tackle.
In my experience, spanish mackerel shy away from outboard noise, so being first is good, and trolling with an electric motor is even better. However, as it is an oily fish it also makes a great bait for shore angling all year round, with almost all species around the british isles being. Florida king mackerel fishing, tips and techniques. Spanish mackerel are a long time favorite here at head first fishing. Live bait fish work extremely well when fishing for king mackerel. I get asked a lot of questions when it comes to the topic of shark bait, so here is my response. Amusthave during summer for catching bait, but cast with care because they are fished off light line. Using mackerel a good way to catch stripers sports. The ideal trolling speed for kings with live baits is between knots. Spoons and jerkbaits work well for spanish and bostons, while kings can be caught trolling bigger versions of these lures, or baitfish like ballyhoo. Using a sea fishing float to target mackerel can be quite good fun and can be used to fish over really snaggy ground to keep tackle loss to a minimum. Chin rigs make the job of rigging dead baits easy, but even so, rigging a bait that swims well, requires care, so do it at home. The lure is placed ahead of the nosehooked bait to. T he tackle used by anglers fishing for spanish mackerel in florida is fairly basic.
Mackerel fishing doesnt have to be difficult, we give you some top tips on the best method to find and catch mackerel. One of the best live baits in this area is fresh mackerel. Apr 16, 2020 the spanish mackerel bite in the bay is very good, the fish are big and theres also tons of bait. The swim action on the lure performs perfectly in the water as a short or long rig trolling lure and maintains its form even after being hit by numerous toothy critters. How to catch spanish mackerel plus free pdf catch card. Can you recommend a good spinning rod for spanish mackerel. Fishing for spanish mackerel spanish mackerel are like minipelagics of chesapeake bay fishing.
How to catch spanish mackerel where, how, and best lures for. Learn how to catch mackerel with this selection of. Despite belowpar catches from beaches in recent years, they still can be abundant at times around the whole of the british isles normally they lurk too far for even the longest casters. They put up a good fight for their size, especially if caught using ultra light fishing gear. Spanish mackerel have been known to reach 32 inches. Small mackerel can be fished whole with the hook passed through the mackerels mouth and out of the top of the head. See our list of what to put in your fishing tackle box. Deep sea fishing for king mackerel using live bait. When a mackerel attacks bait on a float its normally hard and fast. Trolling speeds should be adjusted to sea conditions but 1,000 to 1,500 rpm or between 2 and 4 knots is a good. Also, i keep an eye on seasurface temperature and chlorophyll patterns on sites such as. Im not sure of the cost but its not to expensive at all one mackerel is good for quite a few pieces of bait.
Had a good time fishing on the gulf state park pier, had a lot of chances but its really tough landing these fish with everything that could go wrong. Caught on the right tackle they can be real fun to catch. Jun 23, 2016 had a good time fishing on the gulf state park pier, had a lot of chances but its really tough landing these fish with everything that could go wrong. They are very flexible at the tip, so when a spanish mackerel strikes your bait at their usual high rate of speed, the forgiveness in the tip helps keep the hook from being torn out of their mouth. Let me share with you what makes a good mackerel lure, some of the lures i use, in addition to how and when to use them. The scad can be filleted and used in the same way as mackerel, the herring can be cut into steaks and the sprat can be used whole. Catching spanish mackerel 101 the online fisherman. Where is a good spot to catch some mackerel in sd bay for lobster bait this time of year. Silvery live baits such pilchards, threadfin herring, menhaden, mullet and blue runners are preferable to dead baits, according to virtually all top tournament anglers. Most likely someone else will need to borrow one while youre there. In this video i discuss my favorite techniques and lures on how to catch spanish mackerel. I was once driving on the bridge over the swan river and saw some people crabbing off the bridge.
What is the best bait for catching mackerel answers. This linear shingle storm beach stretches from portland to west bay. Also use a can of mackerel, poke holes in it and put in a gunny sack tied to a rope and throw it in the area you are fishing works really well out here. The spanish mackerel is a coastal pelagic fish that lives in coastal open waters. Four to six mackerel should be more than enough for a general days sea angling unless they are small joey mackerel, also a lot more bait is required for tope, conger and shark fishing. Best lures to catch king mackerel big king mackerel, nicknamed smokers because they burn line off reels so quickly and are tasty smoked on the grill, are usually targeted using fresh dead or live baits like cigar minnows, menhaden or pilchards. But its now, in these warmer months, when they can be found in colossal shoals, pursuing bait fish such as sandeels. Jun 14, 2019 mackerel fishing tips from mackie mecca one of the prime mackerel locations in the country is chesil beach, in dorset. The other oddity is that local freshwater anglers use mackerel as cut bait for catfish. Spanish mackerel fishing rig custom gang hooks ryan. The durability of the lure itself is outstanding on toothy fish like wahoo, giant trevally and yellowfin tuna. They will take bottom or top lures, so its best to try a variety of lures if the goto silver spoon is not.
He likes to fish two king mackerel baits deep on downriggers, and at least two more on the surface in the prop wash. If fishing a whole mackerel in this manner it is a good idea to slash the sides of the mackerel with a knife to release extra scent. Using mackerel strips, fillets and flappers as bait sea. The first step in catching mackerel is to get the right gear. Sebile stick shad green mackerel fishing bait, multi, 6 14 16cm 3 78 oz by sebile only 10 left in stock more on the way. Mackerel is the toughest and most obvious oily fish to use as bait, but others can be almost as good or, occasionally, even better. Sometimes you have to put the big kings in the mood to bite, and the secret here is chum, according to a number of tournament leaders. Mediumlight spin or baitcasting rigs or 7 to 8weight fly outfits provide plenty of sport. Spanish mackerel fishing in florida is enjoyed by many anglers.
Chin rigs make the job of rigging dead baits easy, but even so, rigging a bait that swims well, requires care, so do it at home the night before and pop the rigged baits in the fridge. Herring, sprat and scad are also good oily fish to use for bait, although they are not always available and are an unusual catch for the sea angler. Jul 16, 2019 research represents the most critical element in king mackerel fishing. Maybe some of those endofthepier spanish mackeral, cobia and shark conquerers will chime in under the comments section. Fishing calendar for 2020 best fishing times from the. In small sizes, they are really deadly for mackerel and for use as baited lures. For customized moon phase times, see our moon phase calendar. Theyre lightningfast speedsters with a lot of pullageperpound, and although theyre only in our neck of the woods for the summer months, provide a great diversion from the usual species we pursue.
Otherwise, larger pieces or even the whole flapper itself can be used on your hooks. Spanish mackerel are schooling fish that are popular to recreational anglers especially around piers. Structure plays an important role in king mackerel fishing, and the thousands of oil rigs in the gulf make a natural place for kings to hold. When fishing at the tide, use a long lead because you want to put it out and leave the rod in the holder, a long lead will keep whipping around in the current. Mackerel fishing doesnt have to be difficult, we give you some top. How to catch mackerel along australias east coast fishing. To be most effective, having the right gear for the job is a must. There are lots of different bait snaggers on the market, ranging from the simple to the extravagant and priced accordingly. The tarpon bite is good at the skyway and some of the reefs on live threadfins and chunk bait. Oct 08, 2019 9 trophy king mackerel love live bait. Hearty blue runners are also great for slow trolling live bait for kingfish. At other times fishing a single fish bait under a float really works.
Comprised of a rod with a trigger grip, the conventional rod puts the reel on top of the rod not below it as is the case with spinning gear. Spanish mackerel fishing in florida, an anglers guide. Mar 26, 2020 a pinfish will be your best bait, reports capt. Fishing from the beach, a pier, or fishing waist deep in water on a grass flat near the gulf of mexico or the atlantic ocean is different than fishing from a boat. Its a hugely popular fishing spot, but with over 18 miles of beach available, youll always find an area from which to fish. You may also want to see my setting up a mackerel for bait guide in the beginners guide section.
Jun 09, 2018 king mackerel have a bad tendency to short strike a bait, which is why the trailing stinger hook is important. They will stay in temperatures down to about 65 o f if there is plentiful food around. For some tournament anglers, any trolling speed when fishing bait is too fast. Hubbard catches fish with both live bait and artificial lures. This sliding float rig is the rig to use when fishing for mackerel from a pier, jetty or breakwater use a size 10 fine wire mustad aberdeen hook, and bait it with a small sliver of mackerel cut from the shiny flanks of.
To avoid a recurrence, i make my own custom spanish mackerel fishing rig using gang hooks built to withstand the rigours of a run in with a freight train. Farther south they get replaced by a similar species, the serra spanish mackerel scomberomorus brasiliensis. A lot of the mackerel weve caught in our lives have been from boats. I no sooner thought there are no blue claws here then a guy held up a blue claw crab that looked like it was from deadliest catch, huge. At fort pierce, offshore the bottom bite is good at a depth of 80 to 90 feet. The most common bait used to catch mackerel is mackerel themselves. This is especially important if you are using braid, because braid has no stretch. Best lures to catch king mackerel salt water sportsman. Its coming into mackerel fishing time anytime soon on many coastlines. They prefer to live in the coastal zone, preferring water temperatures between 68 o f and 85 o f, though in my experience they generally dont start showing up in good numbers until the water temp hits 71 o f. Some days mackerel turn their noses up at a string of feathered lures, and this could be the time to try a small bar spinner or even cast a fly. All that is needed is a sea fishing float and a strip of mackerel or a sand eel for bait.
Jun 03, 2010 four to six mackerel should be more than enough for a general days sea angling unless they are small joey mackerel, also a lot more bait is required for tope, conger and shark fishing. Mackerel chunks used to be my favorite bait when crabbing at the jersey shore. No doubt, there are other plentiful baits you can use to fish the north carolina outer banks. Spanish mackerel fishing rig custom gang hooks ryan moody. T his is usually attained by bumping the boat in and out of gear. This provides a solid hook hold, although some anglers prefer to hook mackerel through the eyes. Fishing is said to be best during the time between a new moon and a full moon. You want a lead that will move your line up and down. Perfect for kids, mackerel can be easily caught by trolling. Using mackerel strips, fillets and flappers as bait sea angler. The venerable clark spoon and similar lures flutter and skip just like small bait. To accommodate for the oftenhooked kings that are sometimes eating the spanish mackerel, and to grant additional leverage, a lot of anglers fishing for openwater species use conventional tackle. I always use 7 to 76 medium rod with a fast tip which wont have too much give but also allows you to have. Pier fishing for pacific mackerel at the redondo beach pier, california.
Amini lure that is superb for catching the smaller baitfish like sandeels, launce, herrings, joey mackerel and scad. Dear captain can you recommend a good spinning rod for spanish mackerel the reason i recommend the two rods below is because of the moderatetoslow action they have soft tips. I like to use the tarpon pattern, model 7766 in the mustad and model 6026 in the eagle claw. Mackerel are more than baitfish or a summer holiday pastime. Catching mackerel from the shore fishing in the uk. If you are using the mackerel as bait for mackerel or similar smallish fish, the flapper as the fillet is often called should be cut in to small strips. Spanish mackerel are available in all of the inshore and coastal waters of florida at one time of the year or another. Blue runners, sardines, herring, cigar minnows, and mullet are the top live bait fish. Find the bait and the spanish mackerel wont be too far behind. May 27, 2009 mackerel is the toughest and most obvious oily fish to use as bait, but others can be almost as good or, occasionally, even better. Rig with leader and a small egg sinker above the swivel to run just below the surface. Mackerel scomber scombrus are a small, fast predatory fish which is common around almost all of the british isles in the summer months.
But if you just want to catch some decent and delicious pansized or a little better fish, this article has you covered. Its the same tactic for catching garfish and is the most sporting and enjoyable way to catch mackerel. The spanish mackerel bite in the bay is very good, the fish are big and theres also tons of bait. Florida fishing girl darcizzle goes offshore fishing in the deep sea. Apr 05, 2020 spanish mackerel fishing in florida, an anglers guide. How to catch mackerel using a float, spinning or feathering. This species can be found in waters of the western atlantic, at times as far north as cape cod and south to florida, throughout the gulf of mexico down to the yucatan peninsula. Kingfish rigs, king mackerel bait and trolling rigs salt. The narrowbarred spanish mackerel scomberomorus commerson replaces them in the indopacific ocean. However, live bait is not always easily obtained, so these same anglers also bring frozen baits such as cigar minnows, ribbonfish and spanish mackerel. Florida king mackerel fishing, tips and techniques sarasota. About five days before the tournament, i start checking the internet for fishing reports in the area, smith says. Jun 24, 2010 some days mackerel turn their noses up at a string of feathered lures, and this could be the time to try a small bar spinner or even cast a fly. I like to keep things basic and use izorlines lucky lura 4 hook snagger rig, which offers a good balance of price and.