How far off the coast?

223vmax

I have a small 19ft boat. I do quite a lot of river/lough fishing but wanted to do some sea fishing. I was wondering how far off shore do you have to go to find reasonable shoals of mackerel/pollock etc? I'd be fishing from Galway bay area.

pullandbang

It's not so much distance, rather the terrain under the water. Pollock like a bit of depth and maybe a wreck or some rocky cover. Macks will chase baitfish right into the shore so if they're in you'll catch them without travelling very far.

Budawanny

223vmax wrote: »

I have a small 19ft boat. I do quite a lot of river/lough fishing but wanted to do some sea fishing. I was wondering how far off shore do you have to go to find reasonable shoals of mackerel/pollock etc? I'd be fishing from Galway bay area.

Mackerel could be right into the shore , it just depends on where they are or the sprats are.
generally you just tool around until you hit a shoal, then turn back on it to try and keep in contact with it.

with a 19 footer you will have no problems. just read a about reading the weather. the tides play a big role for safety (ebbing tide will bank the waves up alot higher than a flooding tide).

onshore/offshore winds, oars.. safety safety basically.

and what Pullandbang said.

Bio Mech

223vmax wrote: »

I have a small 19ft boat. I do quite a lot of river/lough fishing but wanted to do some sea fishing. I was wondering how far off shore do you have to go to find reasonable shoals of mackerel/pollock etc? I'd be fishing from Galway bay area.

Is the boat a standard beam 19 foot lake boat? If so they tend to be a bit narrow for the sea and are inclined to roll a bit on the drift.

223vmax

Its a Shetland boat with 6' 10 beam. Suzuki 50HP outboard. I have a fishfinder /GPS and was planning on just going up and down the coast looking for them.
I have the basic safety equipment VHF radio, flares etc. Not planning on going too far out until I get some close coastal experience.

Bio Mech

That should be plenty. Do you have any marine charts or a chart plotter?

For Pollock if you can find rocks or reefs you should be in with a chance of getting them.

I wouldn't go to sea without an aux engine too.