Mackerel 2021

joe swanson · 27-08-2021 11:41am

newbie Question. I was given a spinning rod which was used for mackerel which I think is quite a poor one. I’m a relative newbie and will be investing in some decent equipment soon.

however I’m not getting much distance on the cast so I put on a heavier spinner. I did catch a couple but nothing major. It got snagged and I lost it. I would like to use a smaller lure/spinner but can I put On a weight as well to get a little distance or would it mess up the activity of the lure?

LessOutragePlz · 28-08-2021 11:18am

Does anyone know if any Macs are being caught in Cork at the moment? Thinking of fishing high tide tomorrow morning at Monkstown or Ballycotton but if anyone could recommend any better spots I'd be grateful. Thanks

dublinbando · 28-08-2021 9:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117810102#Comment_117810102

If you are using a regular spinning rod I would recommend spinners/lures that weigh around 28-32g and make sure you are using the right type of line. You can use mono-filament and I'd recommend using 15lb breaking strain or higher for mackerel, but a better option would be to use braid of 20-30lb breaking strain, it has a much thinner diameter and casts a lot farther. If you use braid either look up how to put it on the reel properly or get the shop to do it for you, as if you do it wrong you will get wind knots and tangles. The best spinner I can recommend is the 32g kilty catcher in the colours green, red or silver. This will catch you everything from pollock to mackerel and especially sea bass. Hope this helps!

dublinbando · 28-08-2021 9:27pm

Spent 4 hours fishing Dún Laoghaire West Pier yesterday over high tide, I got 2 mackerel and there were a few others catching some too, not in massive numbers though

RebelRebel2 · 28-08-2021 11:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117814299#Comment_117814299

Was in Monkstown this morning...fished 2 hrs after high tide...not a sniff of a fish unfortunately

UnleashTheBeast · 28-08-2021 11:35pm

I went out to Salthill in Galway on Wednesday evening - The conditions were ideal, everything pointed to Mackerel being in.

Late August, consistent run of sunny weather, high tide. Not a fish in sight. No sprats in the water either. A few people were fishing but nobody was catching. Crazy.

LessOutragePlz · 29-08-2021 8:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117817372#Comment_117817372

Yeah same as myself 2 weeks ago. They've gotta arrive at some point right!

joe swanson · 01-09-2021 1:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117816950#Comment_117816950

Thanks for the advise. Took your advise and purchased some kiltys. Went out this morning for two hours at LT unfortunately. Didn’t put the braid on yet but was getting a half decent cast. Absolutely no fish ☹️ . Where I fish would be a well known spot for mackerel etc but nobody seems to be catching much at all . For a relatively inexperienced fisherman, I’m not sure whether it’s just unlucky or if it’s something I’m doing or not doing. Quite frustrating. Gonna try again tho! Hard to get time to get out at high tide tho

Zzippy · 01-09-2021 4:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117832667#Comment_117832667

Two hours either side of high tide is probably best, be very rare mackerel would be inshore at low tide.

fourmations · 01-09-2021 5:06pm

hi

going to try DL after work, any recent reports? ive only made it down for an hour or two a few times in the evening in the last couple of weeks but ive not had a touch (low tide)

East or west? into the harbour or seaward side (east is handier with the lights so you can fish til dark) but ill go wherever is better

Does is go actually pitch black on the west, ill only get a couple of hours in before dark

many thanks

Planet X · 01-09-2021 6:02pm

6 of us back of West Pier last night, 6pm on.......nothing.

Quiet windy though.

RebelRebel2 · 05-09-2021 11:01am

Plenty of mackerel caught from the pier in Bllycotton Co Cork at high tide yesterday

coco7 · 05-09-2021 10:36pm

Saw 3 lads fishing from the cliffs on Downpatrick head earlier today. They had caught 30-40 mackerel between them.

dublinbando · 07-09-2021 11:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117832667#Comment_117832667

Yeah for mackerel you want to be fishing 2 hours either side of high tide.. but low tide works well for bass and sea trout, especially around estuaries! Also keep at it, if fishing teaches you one thing it's patience, it might take a couple of sessions before you get a fish but when you eventually do, it will be well worth it! Blanks are very much expected when fishing, especially when you are a beginner and as you gain more experience you should be able to reduce the frequency of your blanks ;)

dublinbando · 08-09-2021 6:44pm

Loads of mackerel in Howth today lads! Good size too!

joe swanson · 16-09-2021 5:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117861349#Comment_117861349

Cheers , I’m fishing in the North east. I’ve only seen one being caught. They seem very scarce. When spinning, should I be letting the lure sink? I’m getting told both . When I let it sink, I just get a load of weed.

Atlantic Dawn · 16-09-2021 5:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900500#Comment_117900500

From a boat I always would have always caught them about midwater, never at the surface. That would have been with feathers though.

dublinbando · 16-09-2021 7:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117900500#Comment_117900500

It all depends, I've heard certain venues the mackerel are on the bottom, such as at clogherhead. I usually mix it up starting off by letting my spinner sink to the bottom first then start retrieving slowly so it's just off the bottom, and speeding it up with each cast so it's higher up, then I might switch to sink and draw which is letting it sink and then lifting the rod tip and repeat (you should only do this if the ground is fairly clean or you're likely to get snagged). You have to search out the water column sometimes, because the mackerel could be anywhere really!

Also if a spinner isn't working I'd switch out to feathers for a bit since there's more hooks and more weight it casts further increasing your chances.

joe swanson · 24-09-2021 4:30pm

im starting to think there is no fish in the sea at all! None being caught at my location unfortunately even by accomplished fishermen. What is going on?

dublinbando · 25-09-2021 9:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117934115#Comment_117934115

There's plenty, just need to be in the right place at the right time with the right strategy.. There's a good few bass being caught in the North Dublin estuaries this week! I heard of plenty of mackerel being caught in Skerries last week too. Last hour of light when high tide is at sunset is one of the best times to fish for most species.

Glencarraig · 06-10-2021 5:01pm

Spent 2 hours on the back of the west pier Dun Laoghaire this morning just as the tide started to drop, nothing happened for the first hour and then the fry arrived and the macks had them cornered. Was using the reliable german sprat and nabbed 6 in as many casts but by God they were small, some no bigger than sardines, all returned. Quite a few bashers further down towards the lighthouse, I'm sure they went home with full bags.

Gumbi · 09-10-2021 12:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117984727#Comment_117984727

Is there a good chance of survival if you return them quickly? Can they find their school again?

Ive thrown back small ones occasionally myself and it would bother me slightly if they were doomed from the outset. I read somewhere about a coating, that if touched at all means they'll die a day or so later.