Mackerel Season

Mackyboy · 03-04-2011 4:56pm #1

The water temp is getting up. And I'm thinking of fresh grilled mackerel.
Anyone living near the coast had a dabble yet, or is it wishful thinking yet.
MB

BoarHunter · 04-04-2011 2:33pm

give it 2 months

Mackyboy · 05-04-2011 10:25am

Does anyone know what the mackerel quota is for the trawlers, for this year. I know the 2010 quota was 65% of 2009, hopefully it's down again.

MB

rushnaldo · 05-04-2011 2:26pm

Quota for Irish boats being down does not help stocks because our politicians handed over our seas to Brussels for entry into the eec back in the 70s. The Norweigan vessels catch most of our palegic fish and Spaniards catch most of our whitefish. Mackerel breed very quickly anyway compared to the herring etc. This year Europe entire quota is 570 thousand tonnes with Norway having 400 thousand of that share. There is a massive amount of small vessels under 40 ft or so going to the mackerel this summer with electronic jigger machines because the price of diesel has made towing a net unprofitable. The start of May usually brings the first of the mackerel into Donegal bay..

Mackyboy · 05-04-2011 6:05pm

rushnaldo wrote: »

Quota for Irish boats being down does not help stocks because our politicians handed over our seas to Brussels for entry into the eec back in the 70s. The Norweigan vessels catch most of our palegic fish and Spaniards catch most of our whitefish. Mackerel breed very quickly anyway compared to the herring etc. This year Europe entire quota is 570 thousand tonnes with Norway having 400 thousand of that share. There is a massive amount of small vessels under 40 ft or so going to the mackerel this summer with electronic jigger machines because the price of diesel has made towing a net unprofitable. The start of May usually brings the first of the mackerel into Donegal bay..

Thanks rushnaldo, that was very helpful, and I'm sure others will think so as well. As long as us fisherman or woman, can still catch a few for the freezer, we should be OK.

MB

niall_b73 · 11-04-2011 2:26pm

hi there, i have been keeping an eye on this subject now for a while as well. my freezer needs seriously stocking up !!

anyway there are reports of mackerel down at cork and clare allbeit scarce reports but they are slowly arriving.

so hopefully not to much longer now.

niall_b73

Mackyboy · 11-04-2011 8:11pm

niall_b73 wrote: »

hi there, i have been keeping an eye on this subject now for a while as well. my freezer needs seriously stocking up !!

anyway there are reports of mackerel down at cork and clare allbeit scarce reports but they are slowly arriving.

so hopefully not to much longer now.

niall_b73

Hi, do you know if they were caught from the shore or a boat

MB

niall_b73 · 11-04-2011 8:20pm

Mackyboy wrote: »

Hi, do you know if they were caught from the shore or a boat

MB

from a boat....below is a quote from the "sea fishing reports ireland" website.

" Here we found numerous Pollack and small Coalfish. For the time that we had left, we decided to replicate some drifts across here and the fishing was consistent with Pollack coming up three & four at a time. The Pollack were not large (best about 5-6lb) and the Coalfish were small but they were all stuffed full of Sandeels which bodes very well for the months ahead.
While mackerel were scare on Sunday last month in the middle we were catching our Mackerel for bait right inside the harbour of Castletownbere. And in good numbers too, it did coincide with the larger tank boats unloading their catches and pumping out their tanks. Whatever the cause, we weren't complaining.
We are anticipating some very good general inshore fishing in the next couple of months as the water slowly warms up and the Mackerel arrive in numbers. We are expecting a great year for Cod and Haddock fishing in particular."

you can keep on top of all catches & read all the report here: http://fishinginireland.info/update/sea_angling.htm#pollacksea

also this is a quote from the "sea angling ireland" website..
"I had a very short session of mack bashing last saturday in Clare. I caught 3 big ones on the cliff on my 3rd cast, but had to leave due to very strong and dangerous winds. But I could say that 3 Macks in less than 30 minutes is a good start. They were used as bait in the aftrenoon session.

I guess its too early to call but its a promising start.

Tight Lines..."

hope this helps, atb
niall_b73

Mackyboy · 12-04-2011 11:36am

niall_b73 wrote: »

from a boat....below is a quote from the "sea fishing reports ireland" website.

" Here we found numerous Pollack and small Coalfish. For the time that we had left, we decided to replicate some drifts across here and the fishing was consistent with Pollack coming up three & four at a time. The Pollack were not large (best about 5-6lb) and the Coalfish were small but they were all stuffed full of Sandeels which bodes very well for the months ahead.
While mackerel were scare on Sunday last month in the middle we were catching our Mackerel for bait right inside the harbour of Castletownbere. And in good numbers too, it did coincide with the larger tank boats unloading their catches and pumping out their tanks. Whatever the cause, we weren't complaining.
We are anticipating some very good general inshore fishing in the next couple of months as the water slowly warms up and the Mackerel arrive in numbers. We are expecting a great year for Cod and Haddock fishing in particular."

you can keep on top of all catches & read all the report here: http://fishinginireland.info/update/sea_angling.htm#pollacksea

also this is a quote from the "sea angling ireland" website..
"I had a very short session of mack bashing last saturday in Clare. I caught 3 big ones on the cliff on my 3rd cast, but had to leave due to very strong and dangerous winds. But I could say that 3 Macks in less than 30 minutes is a good start. They were used as bait in the aftrenoon session.

I guess its too early to call but its a promising start.

Tight Lines..."

hope this helps, atb
niall_b73

Yeah that does sound promising,
Cheers Naill_b73

MB

dbrock · 12-04-2011 9:13pm

couple have been caught of dunlaoighaire pier

mullen07 · 22-04-2011 1:28am

was in howth tonight, tide out - 5 medium sized caught from the pier

rushnaldo · 22-04-2011 12:35pm

Donegal bay has some major plankton boom going on in this great weather. Its like something youd see in a movie. Mackerel breaking the surface everywhere mouths open feeding and shoals of pollock and coalie. Sky news were in Killybegs filming 20 baskin sharks attracted to it very early in April. Small boats with jiggers getting 20 boxes a day and shore anglers getting plenty for evening tea

niall_b73 · 23-04-2011 10:49pm

rushnaldo wrote: »

Donegal bay has some major plankton boom going on in this great weather. Its like something youd see in a movie. Mackerel breaking the surface everywhere mouths open feeding and shoals of pollock and coalie. Sky news were in Killybegs filming 20 baskin sharks attracted to it very early in April. Small boats with jiggers getting 20 boxes a day and shore anglers getting plenty for evening tea

true, i am near bundoran and the charter boats there and mullaghmore are all catching mackerel.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video-Basking-Sharks-Warm-Weather-Brings-Early-Basking-Shark-Sightings-In-Donegal/Article/201104315976389?lid=ARTICLE_15976389_Video,BaskingSharks:WarmWeatherBringsEarlyBaskingSharkSightingsInDonegal&lpos=searchresults

niall_b73

DoneDL · 06-05-2011 10:34am

Anyone catching from the shore.

fallowbuck · 06-05-2011 12:31pm

First mackeral this morn 6th/May, weather windy sea bit choppy, But this spot has produced mackeral even earlier the last few years, off the rocks mine head dungarvan co waterford. Two pollack also.......... fish pie for sunday dinner:D

Mackyboy · 07-05-2011 2:15pm

There are mackerel being caught, in cork harbour.
Checkout the irish sea fishing website for details

MB

DOTHEDOG · 07-05-2011 3:37pm

anyone know about the galway area would love a few kippers

Michael Angelo. · 08-05-2011 1:37am

Mackeral season!?!.. Ya'll get kippers in galway bay sea food.. Or mc donaghs.. :-)

DOTHEDOG · 08-05-2011 11:27pm

Michael Angelo. wrote: »

Mackeral season!?!.. Ya'll get kippers in galway bay sea food.. Or mc donaghs.. :-)

eh: i think the fish are fresher coming straight out of the water :pac:

spose · 08-05-2011 11:37pm

Had plenty of tehm inside Cork harbour in the last couple of weeks. Unusually large too

ch750536 · 09-05-2011 8:30am

Drew a blank at fenit last week but spoke to people further round the bay on the same day who had a bucketful.

Michael Angelo. · 10-05-2011 2:31am

DOTHEDOG wrote: »

eh: i think the fish are fresher coming straight out of the water :pac:

:rolleyes:

Of course, but my point is this is a mackeral season thread, unless i'm wrong kippers are herring???

Mackeral are showing in small numbers from the shore at Ballycastle, Mayo

gsxr1 · 10-05-2011 6:19pm

Would I be correct in saying that the mackerel season has been terrible for 2 years now.

elius · 10-05-2011 7:20pm

gsxr1 wrote: »

Would I be correct in saying that the mackerel season has been terrible for 2 years now.

Far from it caught 250 in mayo last year and just had to stop to many being caught......

Mackyboy · 11-05-2011 10:08am

Wow, thats good going.

MB

Cdub · 14-05-2011 10:21am

Mackerel have been abundant last few years, sometimes the shoals get broken up after a sustained period of bad weather.

Best way to fish for them is still a single spinner and a light spinning rod, great fun.

neilboard · 16-05-2011 5:08pm

Does anyone know if they`ve been caught from nemo`s pier in galway yet? Was very hit and miss last year!

Cdub · 16-05-2011 10:43pm

Know a few Galway lads and they haven't mentioned macks yet.

Longranger · 18-05-2011 10:18pm

Cdub wrote: »

Mackerel have been abundant last few years, sometimes the shoals get broken up after a sustained period of bad weather.

Best way to fish for them is still a single spinner and a light spinning rod, great fun.

You haven't had fun catching mackeral until you try a #4 8 foot fly rod with a slow sinking line. Just use 6-8 foot cast with a single fly. Best job are homemade lures made with size 2 hook wrapped in fluorescent wool with a couple of 2 inch silver streamers and finished off with a dab of loctite! Cheap,cheerful and GREAT craic:)

ronaldo84 · 19-05-2011 12:21am

Longranger wrote: »

You haven't had fun catching mackeral until you try a #4 8 foot fly rod with a slow sinking line. Just use 6-8 foot cast with a single fly. Best job are homemade lures made with size 2 hook wrapped in fluorescent wool with a couple of 2 inch silver streamers and finished off with a dab of loctite! Cheap,cheerful and GREAT craic:)

me and 2 other lads did this in killary last year of a boat were getting 3 at a time on a cast with 3 feathers awful craic until a seal decided to take a mackeral and snap the fly rod!!!

janeymacd · 20-05-2011 11:13am

Any mackerel in and around Clogherhead yet? Thinking of doing a bit around 28th May.

sean raff · 24-05-2011 11:59am

not yet a wee bit early but wont be long

janeymacd · 24-05-2011 3:42pm

Yeah, that's what my Dad said too! Ah well, we'll have to wait a few more weeks I guess! Thanks for the reply

karlram · 25-05-2011 1:08pm

janeymacd wrote: »

Any mackerel in and around Clogherhead yet? Thinking of doing a bit around 28th May.

was out there last week and nothing

sean raff · 30-05-2011 6:02pm

was out yesterday,launched from clougher into a pretty freash wsw wind
had plenty macs off dunnany point anchored up for tope no luck there

Dusty87 · 31-05-2011 8:59am

Anyone fishing off the rocks in howth at all?

janeymacd · 31-05-2011 3:52pm

That's great news, the mackerel are arriving

Unfortunately I won't be launching off anywhere, I'm shore bound with no access to a vessel at all, so I'll have to take my chance with pier fishing or otherwise off the head in clogher. Might nip up to Dunnany point either. Anyone know where I can get information about restrictions etc about fishing off piers etc. Someone mentioned that fishing off clogher pier has been banned since the new pier opened up, I'm hoping this isn't true though!

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4 · 31-05-2011 4:53pm

any good spots for mackeral off the north donegal shore line? im new to sea fishing so will be using a spinner and a pike rod

sean raff · 31-05-2011 6:52pm

not true fish away till your box is full then fill another.

Wowbagger · 02-06-2011 1:53am

Hi all,

New to here and to Mackerel fishing so any tips at all would be appreciated. I have some questions the answers to which may be blindingly obvious but would like to know for future reference.

1) When is Mackerel season exactly

2) Is high tide best time to fish for them

3) What kit is best for fishing Mackerel, I have a 10' rod and reel combination with line that has a 15lb breaking strain (not sure what that means but assume it's to do with the strain the fish puts on the line?)

4) Is it possible to make up your own feathers/traces or am I better off buying the standard stuff from the tackle shops.

I like them grilled on a slice of homemade brown bread, and to catch one or two fresh would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Mackyboy · 02-06-2011 9:31am

Coda69 wrote: »

Hi all,

New to here and to Mackerel fishing so any tips at all would be appreciated. I have some questions the answers to which may be blindingly obvious but would like to know for future reference.

1) When is Mackerel season exactly

2) Is high tide best time to fish for them

3) What kit is best for fishing Mackerel, I have a 10' rod and reel combination with line that has a 15lb breaking strain (not sure what that means but assume it's to do with the strain the fish puts on the line?)

4) Is it possible to make up your own feathers/traces or am I better off buying the standard stuff from the tackle shops.

I like them grilled on a slice of homemade brown bread, and to catch one or two fresh would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

The Mackerel season is between May and October, the mackerel follow the small bait fish for food and as the water warms up the small fish come closer to the shore.

You can catch mackerel at high or low tide, but usually high is better

The rod you have is fine, the line is a little bit heavy for mackerel, but it will do, coz if you get court up in weed you'll need to pull it out.

Traces only cost between €1 and €2 to buy, but you can make them, use anything shiney and not to big of a hook

You can't beat mackerel 1 or 2 hours out of the water, or even 1 or 2 mins, in some casys

Hope this helps
MB

faigs · 02-06-2011 6:14pm

The weather is really making me want to go out tomorrow, anyone tried off South Dublin coast yet?

vicwatson · 02-06-2011 6:32pm

Hi,

The Mackerel season is between May and October, the mackerel follow the small bait fish for food and as the water warms up the small fish come closer to the shore.

You can catch mackerel at high or low tide, but usually high is better

The rod you have is fine, the line is a little bit heavy for mackerel, but it will do, coz if you get court up in weed you'll need to pull it out.

Traces only cost between €1 and €2 to buy, but you can make them, use anything shiney and not to big of a hook

You can't beat mackerel 1 or 2 hours out of the water, or even 1 or 2 mins, in some casys

Hope this helps
MB

It helped me thanks. Can you please advise what bait to use ? and also could I catch them from the beach? TIA

faigs · 02-06-2011 6:42pm

You don't need bait for mackerel, just the shiny traces. Have never caught them from a beach bu I have from pier and boat.

darol15 · 02-06-2011 9:15pm

a set of feathers is the most popular and work well ! was talking to a guy fishing off the bridge in kinsale and he said he caught nothing ! might be a bit early yet but theres a hot few days ahead of us

Wowbagger · 03-06-2011 1:01am

Thanks for your reply MB. I am in the process of finding a place to fish and will be back to tell you about the ones that didnt get away, (I hope).

Mech1 · 06-06-2011 1:27pm

Has anyone had any luck feathering for mackerel off the piers at Dún-Laoghaire this year yet?

elius · 06-06-2011 11:19pm

Was in achill the weekend disappointing 11 maks :rolleyes: .
Talking to the locals fishermen and one said the storm before the bank holiday had driven them back out to the deep.

@ Mackyboy how to you make out 15 pound line is to heavy? I use nothing less than 25lbs the poor lad will be loosing rigs left right and centre if he's fishing of rocks etc....

beer enigma · 08-06-2011 12:59pm

I'm actually looking for a telescopic rod that I can take with me on my travels - anyone seen them around ?

experimenter · 08-06-2011 1:08pm

Aldi or Lidl, someone had them last week.

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_16939.htm

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_16938.htm

beer enigma · 08-06-2011 4:54pm

experimenter wrote: »

Aldi or Lidl, someone had them last week.

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_16939.htm

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_16938.htm

Cheers,

would the general purpose rod be too light for Mackerel ?

Mackerel Season

Comments