Summer 2015 Mackerel Merge. Mod note #1

ComfortKid

Seen somewhere yesterday on Twitter that there is mackerel being caught allready. Can't find the tweet now to see where twas. Has anyone caught any yet? I thought twas a waste of time untill at least mid june.

Mod note. Stickied. All mackeral queries here. Do not start another thread asking about mackerel. Infraction will apply.

Happy Mackerel Bashing Eveybody

dodderangler

ComfortKid wrote: »

Seen somewhere yesterday on Twitter that there is mackerel being caught allready. Can't find the tweet now to see where twas. Has anyone caught any yet? I thought twas a waste of time untill at least mid june.

With this weather lately it wouldn't surprise me but I'd say it'd be on the west of Ireland if it was.
Mackerel tend to taste Shiite early in the season and dot ask me cuz I dot know why but they don't taste as good as they do when they're caught in July /August

ComfortKid

Yeah it's the west id be going to if there around. I thought the southeast would see the first shoals. I might give it a shot tomorrow shur. If I get any atall I might just use them for bait.
Jeez thats strange about them tasting different, never heard it before. Must be something got to do with what they're eating I suppose?

twin_beacon

dodderangler wrote: »

Mackerel tend to taste Shiite early in the season and dot ask me cuz I dot know why but they don't taste as good as they do when they're caught in July /August

indeed, they are oilier later in the summer, taste a lot better.

ComfortKid

twin_beacon wrote:

indeed, they are oilier later in the summer, taste a lot better.

Any idea why? Is it the heat or they're diet later in the summer?

dodderangler

ComfortKid wrote: »

Any idea why? Is it the heat or they're diet later in the summer?

Could quite possibly be down to the diet and change of temperatures. During the summer they literally feast like fcuk I the sprats and fry.
Find the baitfish and you'll find the Macks.

niallon

https://fishinginireland.info/news/sea-reports/plenty-of-mackerel-in-sligo-bay-and-some-good-charter-fishing/

Sligo Bay seeing Mackerel according to this report published yesterday.

Welruc

Plenty of good mackerel caught off Belmullet last week, must be the warm weather

Robarley

2 weeks age there were sprat around the west coast,might give it a go next week

SeaFields

Plenty of mackerel being taken off the rocks in south kerry this evening. Gannets hitting the water too by the dozen. Great sign summer's coming.

triusis

Any sign of mackerel in Cork area yet?

bpmurray

Nothing outside Carlingford - a few ratty fish but no sign of mackerel.

243Xpress

Plenty of mackerel off helvic head Saturday morning.

Mikecraddock

Any areas recommended near tramore? Heading down there with the boat this weekend. Any help is much appreciated. Love to grab a few mackerel.

Mike

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nearest reports from boats last weekend were from Cobh.

Blondie919

Mikecraddock wrote: »

Any areas recommended near tramore? Heading down there with the boat this weekend. Any help is much appreciated. Love to grab a few mackerel.

Mike

Try Helvick near Ring.

Snowc

Was chatting to a skipper today who fishes 120 miles off the west coast and says that he is still catching mackerel and he says is extremely strange for this time of year as they are usually much closer to shore.

Merkin

Any joy with macks on the East coast yet? What is Dun Laoghaire like for mackerel fishing does anyone know?

Picked a few up on Saturday off Kilmore Quay. Only about a dozen or so but they were a good size. It was hard going to find them though.


They were delicious too....

SeaFields

Apparently it's the June bank holiday weekend (not that you would know with the weather) so I stickied this for all mackerel related questions and chat. There a mod note in the OP.


Still mackerel being taken in south Kerry both shore and boats.

ardinn

Thinking of having a go off the shore soon - any advice??

Where are you going to be fishing Ardinn?

ardinn

Mid/North Wex - Maybe Kilmuckridge

Limestone Cowboy

Managed 3 off black head this morning. Tough going to be honest.

I sent you a pm Ardinn

Robarley

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Managed 3 off black head this morning. Tough going to be honest.

How long were you there??

Limestone Cowboy

Robarley wrote: »

How long were you there??

About an hour and a half I'd say.

ComfortKid

Limestone Cowboy wrote:

About an hour and a half I'd say.

An hour and a half aint tough going ha. I often spent 7 or 8 hours chasing a trout and not even get a bite :'-(

Limestone Cowboy

ComfortKid wrote: »

An hour and a half aint tough going ha. I often spent 7 or 8 hours chasing a trout and not even get a bite :'-(

This is mackerel in black head. Not trout. Normally you would catch a few dozen in an hour there if they were there. I have spent enough of days fishing there to know it was tough going.

pnpweirdo

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

This is mackerel in black head. Not trout. Normally you would catch a few dozen in an hour there if they were there. I have spent enough of days fishing there to know it was tough going.

I've often went days in black head without a single bite. Last summer was especially bad.

Merkin

Where is Black Head?

pnpweirdo

On the Clare side of Galway bay. In the burden.

Limestone Cowboy

pnpweirdo wrote: »

I've often went days in black head without a single bite. Last summer was especially bad.

I'm of the opinion that that mackerel are always biting and if your not catching them they are not there, I wouldn't normally spend that long casting into the same spot hoping for the best. It's only down the road from me though. Agreed on last year, prefer spinning for pollock or wrasse to be honest but the auld fella likes a few mackerel now and again :rolleyes:

pnpweirdo

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

I'm of the opinion that that mackerel are always biting and if your not catching them they are not there, I wouldn't normally spend that long casting into the same spot hoping for the best. It's only down the road from me though. Agreed on last year, prefer spinning for pollock or wrasse to be honest but the auld fella likes a few mackerel now and again :rolleyes:

Loves a mackerel every now and then you mean. After making the trip down and the mackerel aren't there I'm happy enough to sit there and take in the view. For me its one of the nicest places in Ireland once its not that windy. Its also a shame to see people leave there rubbish after them.

Robarley

Off fishing shortly,will do an update when i come back!!

squidly

fished a rock mark in kinsale yesterday evening,just three very small pollock..

catastrophy

Robarley wrote: »

Off fishing shortly,will do an update when i come back!!

And the award for the longest continual fishing trip goes to ...

haybob

Loads of pollack around haven't seen any mackerel yet

Lads is it worth buying a 15 ft rod for the extra distance? will it handle the rough ground ?how much are we talking ??

catastrophy

haybob wrote: »

Loads of pollack around haven't seen any mackerel yet

Lads is it worth buying a 15 ft rod for the extra distance? will it handle the rough ground ?how much are we talking ??

What rod are you thinking of? A bad rod will cost you distance.

haybob

catastrophy wrote: »

What rod are you thinking of? A bad rod will cost you distance.

I don't know to be honest i would take a recommendation

catastrophy

haybob wrote: »

I don't know to be honest i would take a recommendation

http://www.waaoc.com/sea-rods/1318-qrauvell-compition-surf-ii-8412119294034.html

haybob

catastrophy wrote: »

http://www.waaoc.com/sea-rods/1318-qrauvell-compition-surf-ii-8412119294034.html

I wasn't quite planning on spending that kind of money !!! I was thinking of something around a €100 plus a reel how would a 15 ft it handle rough ground ??

catastrophy

haybob wrote: »

I wasn't quite planning on spending that kind of money !!! I was thinking of something around a €100 plus a reel how would a 15 ft it handle rough ground ??

honestly, dont bother. its a subject that requires a thread of its own.

haybob

catastrophy wrote: »

honestly, dont bother. its a subject that requires a thread of its own.

Fair enough and thanks for the reply

dmc17

haybob wrote: »

I don't know to be honest i would take a recommendation

The Shakespeare Agility are a good rod for the price

haybob

dmc17 wrote: »

The Shakespeare Agility are a good rod for the price

how would she handle rough ground

dmc17

haybob wrote: »

how would she handle rough ground

From another site:

the Agility Long Surf is ideal for a range of situations, from clean to light-rough-ground fishing for everything from close range flatties to fishing at maximum range for bass, cod and rays.

The mackerel won't be on the rough ground anyway :pac:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

haybob wrote: »

how would she handle rough ground

There's a lot more at play in managing rough ground than the rod. Indeed the length of the rod is only one of many factors rodwise. Then there's line, reel ...

haybob

dmc17 wrote: »

From another site:


The mackerel won't be on the rough ground anyway :pac:

Yep loads and loads of macks usually and early too caught them there in MAY last year

Thanks again for the replies

haybob

Giana Delightful Brain wrote: »

There's a lot more at play in managing rough ground than the rod. Indeed the length of the rod is only one of many factors rodwise. Then there's line, reel ...

Yea i get that part of it well the reel part of it anyway way do you mean about line

Robarley

catastrophy wrote: »

And the award for the longest continual fishing trip goes to ...

Lol wasn't long at all,lots of sprat in Galway Bay won't be long before they come in!!