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Do you want to learn how to catch mackerel? Mackerel is high in protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, anglers also like to fish for mackerel as it is a good bait to catch other fish. Almost all other fish are attracted to a piece of mackerel on the hook. If you want to learn how to catch mackerel, then this article will help you develop the skills and gain the knowledge needed to catch mackerel.
Table of Contents
How To Catch Mackerel From A Boat
When fishing for mackerel in a boat, you can let the boat drift and use Sabiki bait lures with a pear-shaped lead weight attached at the lower end of the string. With the lure on your line, lower it slowly and jig it up and down until you get a strike. If you are not successful in getting the fish on the hook, repeat the procedure until you can hook it.
When you are fishing for mackerel in a boat, watch for diving seabirds. If you see them circling and diving into the water, that is a sign that there are mackerel in that area and the seabirds are diving in and picking up some of the mackerel. That is an area you want to go to and catch some mackerel.
You can also catch mackerel in a boat by using the Paravane rig. With the boat going not more than 3 knots, use a paravane. The paravane will pull the lure down into the water.
How To Catch Mackerel From Shore
Most often you will find more mackerel around the shores in summer than in other seasons. Mackerel like deep water, therefore fish for them with your boat on beaches, jetties, piers, and breakwaters.
1. Spinning Fishing Method
When fishing for mackerel from the shore, you can use the spinning fishing technique to catch mackerel. Use a light spinning rod, a fixed spool reel, and a small lure. Cast your line and reel it back in when you get a tight line. There are a number of methods that can be used to reel the lure back in.
The Big Long Pull
With this method, you pull the rod spinning rod back in one motion while keeping it at waist level. Then move it forward again while you reel in the slack. Repeat this procedure for about 3 or 4 complete turns on the reel.
The Short Sharp Twitch
After casting your line and getting a tight line, keep the rod tip down low and gently pull the rod while you slowly reel the line in. The short sharp twitch works well for lures with rattles.
The Delayed Reaction
With the delayed reaction method, you keep the rod still and give the reel a few turns for the lure to move a few meters and then pause for about 4 to 8 seconds. Then repeat this procedure.
2. Float Fishing
To float fish you will need a float fishing rig. You will need a spare line, a stop knot or rubber band, beads, a float, a weight, a swivel, and a hook.
When you have made your float, you will cast your line and wait. When a mackerel is on your line, the float will disappear and go below. When the float goes down into the water, then you won’t raise your rod in a single, fast, and continuous action. It is assumed that the fish is on the hook and when you raise the rod up fast, you can confirm the assumption.
If you realize that your float is hardly under the water, it could be that the fish is eating your bait and not on the hook. In this scenario, it is your call whether to strike or not. You can decide to leave it for a little while to see if the fish gets caught on the hook before you pull it up.
3. Feathering Fishing Method
With the feathering method, you will have from 3 to 6 feathers or plastic strips attached to the hook. It features a swivel or a loop at either end and the main line to one end and the weight to the other end. Drop your line into the water below you and slowly raise and lower the rod.
Types of Fishing Floats
There are a number of fishing floats and they are the light-up at night float, the polystyrene float, the plastic float, and the tiny float.
1. Light-up At Night Folat
The light-up at night float features a second hole on the top to let you place a night light stick. It is heavy and this makes it difficult to cast at great distances. Moreover, it makes a lot of noise when it hits the water and that may scare away fish.
2. Polystyrene Float
The polystyrene float is good for casting at long distances as it is aerodynamic and uses a heavyweight. It doesn’t crack and is not cheap. One negative for this float is that it scrapes the line and slowly weakens it. It requires you to check it regularly or the line might break when you are casting or reeling in a mackerel.
3. Plastic Float
The plastic float is reasonable but tends to break and crack easily after a short period of use.
4. Tiny Float
The tiny float is sensitive such that you can easily detect the faintest of bites. It is harder to use as there isn’t much top showing but after using them for some time, you will get to like them. if you are fishing a calm sea and distance isn’t an issue, then the tiny float is a good choice.
How To Catch Mackerel From A Pier
1. Float Fishing
When fishing mackerel from a pier, you can also use the float fishing method. Just cast your line about 5 to 30 yards and wait. When the float goes below the water, that most likely means a mackerel is on it. You then raise your rod in a quick and continuous action. After raising your rod, you can see if you have the mackerel or not.
2. Feathering
When fishing for mackerel from a pier, you can also use the feathering technique. Drop the feathers directly below you and jig them up and down. This may seem simple, but that simple-looking technique will make you catch many mackerel.
Mackerel Fishing Tips
1. When you use the feathering technique to catch mackerel, fish over clean ground. You don’t want to fish over rocks and weeds.
2. Fish for mackerel at high tide. They usually follow the tide as it comes in.
3. Dawn and dusk are the best time to catch mackerel.
4. When searching for mackerel, look for deep water. Mackerel search the open seas looking for food. Mackerels don’t hang around structures and wrecks.
5. If you don’t intend to eat them, don’t hold the mackerel on its sides with your hands to unhook it. Jiggle the hook out of its mouth or try to hold it by the top and bottom to unhook it.
6. You can quickly kill a mackerel by breaking the neck. Insert your finger onto the roof of the inner mouth and quickly bend the head backward.
7. Use disgorgers to unhook the fish if you are using lures or Sabikis.
8. Use a braided line to cast at farther distances and increase bite sensitivity.
9. Use a strong, razor-sharp hook size 2-3 for hookups.
10. The best bait for mackerel is mackerel.
The Bottom Line
Mackerel is a favorite of anglers as it is a healthy fish and is bait for almost all other fishes. In this article, we shared information and fishing techniques to help you catch mackerel. if you want to learn how to catch mackerel, then after reading this article, you will have the knowledge to be a better angler for catching mackerel.
If you also fish for spotted seatrout, salmon, and walleye, then how to catch spotted seatrout, how to catch salmon, and walleye fishing tips will help you catch more of these fish.
