Mackerel .... they're here !

[upnorth1]

Well guys, the mackerel have finally decided to come inshore, after about 3 weeks of staying a mile off!

Why do they do that? millions upon millions of sprat, sandeel, and launce, swimming close to our shore, and the mackerel will just not follow them in here until the second week in June, strange but true...

Gonna try and fly fish for them this year, I usually float fish for them on really light gear, just to try and get maximum sport, but trying to find a spot that isn't so bloody crowded with , as we call 'em up here, "The Macky Butchers", with there beachcasters, strings of feathers, tinsel, hokkais, spinners, leaders (some of 'em anyway use leaders, but thats another moan i'll keep for later!!!), 6oz leads and the like, six tins of lager, transistor radio, (with batteries dying coz they've been there like days chasing that elusive mackerel!!!!), and , oh yeah, not forgetting the pile of around 50-80 mackerel beside them, baking in the sun, unfilleted, useless, wasted, but hey, it's not a problem, coz these guys are proper anglers, who catch mackerel six at a time, and leave them in a pile to show all the other anglers around them "look at all my fish, I caught them!", and at the end of their day, they'll fill their black bin liner with the next to useless fish, and walk off, with everyone looking at the big prize they are walking off with, their faces filled with satisfaction and glee, testosterone almost choking the air! But, when they get to the end of the pier, theres no one else to admire this bulging bag of fish, and it is getting a bit heavy to carry. God, I haven't even filleted them yet, and I want to go out on the lash tonight too. What happens? you guessed it - DUMPED! but thats ok, coz he'll be back tomorrow, to do it all again - coz hey, he's a proper angler!

Sorry bout that guys, but I see it every year on my local pier, and it annoys me to hell and back. I've suddenly realised why I don't do a lot of mackerel fishing...

[andyg]

So what are you trying to say? hehe

[Ben]

i knwo what you mean
you seee it alot with young kids corse fishing

[DownSouth]

Not just in the NE either Paul. I have never thought of a pile of mackies as a penis extension - expensive cars and big camera lenses, yes, but not mackie... :)

[pingu]

I agree with paul
mackeral can be good sport fish if taken one at a time on light gear
and if you only take what you need.(as with most fish)(or else why would you catch wrasse) mind you it can be funny watching some of the sunburnt scarlet tinsel flingers leaving the beach empty handed at the end of a long hot day session , when your going down for the bigger stuff overnight

[andyg]

How do you catch mackerel on a float, what do they take?

[pingu]

worm or a piece of another mackeral seems best(canabalist beasties)

[steve devon]

and sandeel

[upnorth1]

I like to use live sprat, about 3 foot under the surface, on 8lb. line...

And just watch them go...!!!

I wish mackerel grew to about 10lb.... I would target nothing else, honestly, what a hard fighting fish..

[steve devon]

they do they called tuna!