mackerel fishing

Ive just moved out to Skerries and hope to have a go around there. Anyone know decent spots. I remember catching a bag full with an uncle of mine off the pier but that was about 20 years ago, havnt done much sea fishing since. When is the best time, around high tide?

Good stuff, will give it a shot over the weekend so, are there usually a few fish to be had in the harbour in season. Any ideas what else can I hope to catch around there?. Have been coarse fishing for years and years but hoping to get into a bit of sea fishing this summer

Sound, will try around and see what I get. Keep you posted

Hill Billy wrote: »

When the macks are in in Skerries the only sport to be had is landing them before the seals pinch them off your line. It can be bedlam down there, particularly when the kids are around. Leads & hooks flying everywhere.

As flanum said the north beach can be quite good. You could also try Barnageera beach for flats, or any of the rock spots north of Skerries for pollack & the like.

The best times for macks from the harbour in Skerries would be, as Degsy said, an hour or so either side of high tide.

Cheers Billy,
looking forward to having a go over the weekend. have to see when the tides are. What is the best method for pollack and that off the rocks. Would I get them spinning a german sprat or the like. Real novice when it comes to sea fishing but eager to learn. Was thinking of joining a club, saw there was one in Balbriggan and another in Rush does anyone know how active they are, just looking to meet some people and see what works, nothing too serious

I was in Greennore yesterday, there were about 6 people fishing. I was talking to one chap, he had 3 mackerel between 1pm and 5pm (he was the only one to catch. So their slowly on their way in lads.

Anybody know how Clogherhead is doing

MB

They're great eating fish but annoyingly boney - they're a member of the Tuna family IIRC. Great way to do them is to fry them in yellow meal (as long as you don't mind stinking out your kitchen - you can either take a fillet off either side or cut the belly out of them.

In terms of catching them, experience points toward dark green feathers as being the single most effective lure. Black feathers are exceptional as well, but you bring up a load of pollack with them, especially rock pollock, which can get very annoying after a while. They will (and have gone) for bare hooks before - but always sand down or use fresh jigs as they don't go for rusty ones. (Someone here said white feathers? I find them great for codling, sometimes even Wrasse, but never mackerel)

Tbh, those hokai and 'deep sea' rigs are pretty useless, as are ragworm. I've caught maybe 3 mackerel off a spinner - If I'm casting using light gear off a pier or rocks I'll generally use a heavy sprat spoon in lieu of a weight - but would definitely not recommend them as your primary lure. A cheap set of feathers and you're flying - cut about half the feather off though, smaller feathers catch more fish.

A few things worth noting is the turn of the tides (esp in late evening during august) is when they tend to congregate near the head of piers, off rock outcroppings etc... Compared to a lot of other fish, they prefer shallower waters - about 3 metres I think - so if you're planning to stay in the same spot casting you'd do well to mark your line.

Another nice trick is to clip off the bail arm when you've one hooked. I use red line so I can approximate where the shoal is when he starts swimming back. I've often got five or six fish on a four hook jig as they get snagged and caught up in the line when the panicked fish swims back to join the shoal. Be careful though as you can often lose the original fish.

Gannets are great indicators, as are seals sitting out enjoying the fine evening Unfortunately, the little feckers are damn fast - more than once have I reeled up to find only half a mackerel, still flapping, and my weight gone.