Herring and Mackarel

[Bjorn]

Hi, I'm a keen Swedish fresh-water angler that has now moved to Newcastle. Now want to try the seafishing out since I'm living a lot closer to the sea than I did in Sweden. I don't have any previous experience from sea fishing appart from a few boat trips in Norway. As you might know it's quite popular to eat herring in Sweden so my first mission is to catsh some herring. I would be very happy if some of you can give me a few tips on good pier/shore spots and when to find the herring in the area. What tide is best, wind direction, weather etc. I also want to get the same questions answered regarding Mackarel.

Thanks

[Norfolkboy]

Welcome to the forum

Not my area, but someone should be along too help you soon

[Sadlos]

Dear Bjorn:

Good day and welcome to the forum.
I am a relatively new member myself but have had a couple of seasons fishing the N.E coast before joining the forum.

Around these waters, you will be hard-pressed to find a decent onshore location for herring ad the commercial boys have just about hoovered them up! - I have had small catches during last summer whilst fishing from a Whitby charter boat about 5 miles offshore of Robin Hoods Bay. But these were isolated and caught on feathers whilst fishing for mackerel bait-fish. Now mackerel are a different prospect all together with very large catches during the months of May - to around the end of September. There arrival will probably be well reported on this discussion forum, with large numbers taken both by boat and from the piers (particularly Whitby North pier, and Bridlington harbour walls), by boat, tripple feathers may result in a fish on each hook, fished a few feet below the surface, (or ask your other anglers what depth they are locating their lures), good sport and nice sized horse-mackerel are good fresh eating. From shore, you can see large flocks of seabirds, (particularly gannetts and herring-gulls), targeting one area then its's a coastal free-for-all with visitors and the local anglers usually taking them on light spinning tackle, (fixed spool reels with light rods 8-10feet in length with a good flexible action, and toby spinning lures with treble hooks. Good sport.

As I get out quite a bit from South Shields, down to the Holderness beaches, I'll give you a call online once the macky's start to run.

Good Luck Mate.

Rick

[Old Smoothound]

Welcome to the forum

I don't know your area, but I do know that Herring are caught from boats off Clovelly down here, known as Cornish Sardines!

[Bjorn]

Thanks for the tips guys! I will keep my light spinning rod handy for the Mackerel! I also have a good boat-rod and reel so I'm also planning to go out on a charter boat some day but what I have understood the season for that is over now and I have to wait until October sometime? Is that right?

[Olde Danny]

Hi.
myself and a couple of mates fish Bridlington (Brid.) as often as we can, and the only thing about so far has been some very small cod/whiting and the usual flatties. It was hard to tell if they where cod or whiting because the bait and hook where bigger.


Sadlos....
is there anything being caught at S-Bro. yet??? The last time i went it was dead, i think the cement lime from all that building had killed or moved off just about everything..

Catchya............

[Pross]

Charters boats would be running all summer for mackerel I'd have thought, more likely to get out on a charter boat through the summer than you are through the winter months, especially in the North Sea.

[Sadlos]

Sadlos....
is there anything being caught at S-Bro. yet??? The last time i went it was dead, i think the cement lime from all that building had killed or moved off just about everything..

Catchya............

Dear Olde Danny:

Thanks for the contact. - You're quite right, no real action at Scarborough yet. I try from the bulge at the Sealife centre, the castle foot, and I think that fishing has just re-commenced upon the newly rebuilt west pier. (Have not tried the pier yet). The council, and sea-wall contractors have assured we tax-payers that only inert materials have been used in the contruction of the wall, but I am a firm believer that any disruption to the natural order, will disturb the local eco-system for quite a while.
As a result, I do most of my fishing at Whitby, Brid and a little at Filey and Hornsea.
Perhaps the days of 8lb plus cod caught from these areas are just a thing of the past. But hey, if we caught fish everytime we had a session, we'd soon get bored don't you think?

Tight lines!

Rick

[Sadlos]

Dear Bjorn:

Sorry, I think that you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick. Chartering in the N.E is largely a summer/autums activity. I am usually out with one of the skippers from Whitby, every 2 weeks between the beginning of May to the end of September. Give me a shout if you fancy a day, and I'll make some enquiries about a suitable charter with a pitch or two free.

Plenty to chose from at Whitby, all of the skippers know there stuff and are eager to help.

Bye for now.

Rick

[Bjorn]

Thanks for the tips guys!

It has been a couple of weeks since I started this thread and I just want to check how you have got on since then. Any nice catches yet?
I will probably go out and see if I can get anything in the weekend :)

How are the charterboats that is going out from North Shields?