Mackerel heads

What is the best way to attach a hook to a mackerel head?

Last Sunday when fishing I hooked up a mackerel head with a 4/0 hook and dropped it into a deep pool - I got a strong bite but what ever it was got away and took the mackerel head with it.

So I would be grateful if somebody could advise me on how best to secure the mackerel head onto a hook.

close the mouth and pass the first hook (of the pennell) in through the tip of the top jaw and out the tip of the bottom jaw..pull line through and then pass this hook through the gill cover...then secure the second hook where you passed the first hook through and secure with bait elastic....

Thanks Gearoid,

That sounds a much better method of securing it than I used :oops:

Just one thing I am unclear about - do you pass the hook under the gill cover and then back out through it or pass the hook through the gill cover from the outside and have it protuding from the back of the head?

ya you pass it through the outside of the gill cover but instead of bringing it out the back of the head i bring it out through the gill cover again as this secures it better and stop the hook getting buried in the bait...I think this is how they set up mackerel flappers off the boats and its what id do if i was targeting congers...

Thanks again.

That fish that got away with my mackerel head is in for a big surprise when I return to that mark :lol: :lol: :lol:

Unfortunately I am going to have to wait for two weeks before I try again - going on holidays tomorrow - the girlfreind booked it - in landlocked Czech Republic - to stop me fishing :cry: :cry:

Thanks again.

That fish that got away with my mackerel head is in for a big surprise when I return to that mark :lol: :lol: :lol:

Unfortunately I am going to have to wait for two weeks before I try again - going on holidays tomorrow - the girlfreind booked it - in landlocked Czech Republic - to stop me fishing :cry: :cry:

lol so is mine but im trying to convince her to go to norway...now that would be a holiday!!