important advice for mackeral feathering as the seasons well and truley underway

[pingu]

theres a really good article in this weeks angling times, along with a good freebie

but something i noticed missing, although it reminds you about useing a shockleader( which i see far too many people not use)

is also to check the mainline of the feathers you are useing!!!
this set has a 45lb main line so should be ok up to a 4oz weight when casting



whereas the set below is only 25lb so ok up to 2oz


use bottom set off the docks for sandeel/sprat etc

please give space between anglers and make sure clear behind as thats more dangerous than infront( where the people arent)
and please dont take more than you need, butchery and greed and is not good sport or good for other beach users to see,

dave

[TURBOTAKER]

Thats a very good thread pingu!!!!

[tjnorton]

Very wise dave. You can never emphise enough about the shock leader sooooooo many people dont bother with one.

tj

[maghouse]

Good Shout Dave ....

I always check for 40/60lb mainline on all my feathers/shrimps then also re-tie swivels & links on each end.

Some sets I bought were 20lb mainline and pull apart knots - all mass produced ... major company as well

Do as Dave says - you know it makes sense

[Gremlin]

Some folks actually return mackerel, when they have caught enough on feathers.

Unfortunately, CEFAS research indicates that they then die anyway (the mackerel, that is)!!!!!

Much better to single them after that on a small spinner or float.

The problem comes with handling thin mucus-skinned species or those with small removable scales (pout, poor cod?).

With most fishes, it doesn't do them a lot of good to be picked up in a dry cloth and thrown back.

Flick 'em off the hook (small fishes), without their feet ever leaving the water, if you can.

If you are going to return mackerel, you need to be aware of the following -

http://www.sacn.org.uk/Articles/Releasing_Mackerel.html

the only way to return mackerel without contamination and mucus removal is to hold ONLY the hook and shake them off!

[paddy2k7_red4life]

good thread mate

regards

paddy

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by pingu

is also to check the mainline of the feathers you are useing!!!
this set has a 45lb main line so should be ok up to a 4oz weight when casting

I got a set of these before the weekend just gone. I tried using them and after catching 4 or 5 mackers, the bloody things started falling apart! I won't be buying those again that's for sure! (Came from same shop )

I ended up discovering some others not too dissimilar in my kit box, with multicoloured "heads" which proved very strong both in quality, and in catching rates.

I nearly always use a 4oz weight too, as it gets good distance for deeper water, but then I use 20lb main line (no shock leader needed really) and the lure line is even tougher I reckon.

[BEE]

Little point in useing feathers much better to use a lure on light gear. You can catch more that enough mackies an maybe the odd bass and pollock.

Shock leaders are vital and if feathers were banned we would not get the numpties useing them without a leader.

[Noel]

Good thread.

Caught a few mackies feathering the other night so rather than catch more than I needed I switched to a Dexter wedge.

Caught bugger all for the rest of the evening! Loads were still being caught on feathers too so I guess they just weren't interested in the large single lure.

I've seen mackeral 'ecsape' into pools etc along the beach after being caught and they do survive. Must be the handling that doesn't do them any good I think.

If you've got enough then switch to single or try float fishing with a fresh slice of mackerel fillet?

I know some of us complain about the mackie bashers but it's good to see families out having a good time fishing. For a lot of people it will the first fish they catch.

[Gremlin]

I know some of us complain about the mackie bashers but it's good to see families out having a good time fishing. For a lot of people it will the first fish they catch.

That's fine; that's fishing.

Keep what you NEED.

The results of handling do not show (under lab conditions) until at least 24hrs later -

There are a number of publications showing the results of all this work.

Lockwood, S. J., Pawson, M.G. and Mumford, B.C., 1977. "Effects of holding mackerel at different densities in nets of various sizes." M.A.F.F., Fish. Res. Tech. rep. No. 33, 10 pp


Pawson, M. G. and Lockwood, S. J., 1980. "Mortality of mackerel following physical stress, and its probable cause." I.C.E.S. rapp. proc. verb., 177: 439-443.


Holeton, G. F., M.G. Pawson & Shelton, G., 1982. "Gill ventilation, gas exchange and survival in the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.)." Can. J. Zool, 60: 1141-1147.


Lockwood, S. J., M. G. Pawson and D. Eaton., 1983. "The effects of crowding on mackerel (Scomber scombrus L) - physical condition and mortality". Fisheries Research, 2: 129-147.