spining for mackerel

im going to try out spinning for mack the weekend was wondering what sort of rod line to use or any other tricks all you master fishermen have

cheers lads

trigger

Might be a bit early for them. Havent seen anyone catch them in waterford yet

have seen them being cought around dublin but im going to be in doneal for the weekend and have heard they are being cought up there if there not around i will have loads of time to practice so :lol:
but tips and tricks would be great

thanks lads
cheers

10 to 15 pound line, 3 to 4 ounce lead, rig of feathers or small squid etc, beachcaster or spinning rod with f/s reel. If you can see them aim a little past them and retrieve quickly through them

cheers deven

i was also planning on trying out just a spinner its about 2 oz do i just put it straight onto the line he bloke in the shop wasnt to helpfull sorry have an 10 ft spinning rod or could i use a carp rod

straight onto the line you dont need a leader. If there is lots of mackeral where you are fishing you woulds be better off using 6 feathers etc. as you may be lucky enough to get a full house ( 6 mackeral on the 6 feathers from one cast). Never been so lucky myself but it is done regularily

Hmm , 4 oz straight onto 10 lb line , plus maybe a full string of decent sized mackerel - I think that might lead to crack-off or tears or both .
I'd use 3 oz onto 15 lb if there was absolutely no danger of killing someone with a crack off but would say that you'd want a shock leader with any other permutation of the weights/strengths mentioned .
I also reckon that 10 lb is too light for feathers anyway . Remember you've got the clutch locked down tight all the time .
And with feathers I wouldn't reel straight in , even just in front of a moving shoal . Still give them a fluttering movement if you can control yourself enough to do so but obviously don't let them drop below the fish .
Having said that - good luck anyway !
nick

On reflection I think you must have meant 3 oz with 10 lb or 4 oz with 15 lb but I'd still be wary . Stick to 15 lb for feathers . 10 straight onto spinner is just fine though .

i think yous all have it all coverd there lads thanks just one more question wat sort of rod will i use what would be best for casting a spinner and playing a fish

hey trigger, do you intend fishing for them with the 6 feathers and 3 or 4oz lead? in that case you're probably best off using a proper beach caster and a fixed spool reel upto the job. dragging in mackeral on that kind of set up gets boring though, and if you intend fishing with lighter spinners, say tobies, german sprats,and other lures, then a medium weight spinning rod that can cast weights between 15 to 60 grammes would be best. given half a chance mackeral will scrap like hell. if they grew to double figures i reckon no one would ever fish for anything else!!!!

im going to be using tobies and others on a light tackle as you say its gets boring so trying to spice it up a bit for some fun
thanks for the advice hope i catch something now

cheers

if you want to go light you should also try float fishing for mackeral using a sliding float so you can change the depth, a size 1 hook and a small sliver of mackera.l great fun.

great idea will try tat if i get fet up castin out reelin in castin out reelin in you now wat i mean

Have had a few in West Cork for the past 3 weekends.
Feathers are the best way to catch lots if you planning on using for bait, but you are dead right to go for a proper fishing experience and a proper fight using a single spinner, Toby or German sprat.

Mackerel are my all-time favorite fish they taste great, look great and are simple to catch and with the right set-up you get some fight off em too! I hate seeing the crowds of once a year fishermen and women bashing away with feathers for the sake of if, how many mackerel can you eat anyways?? 2 years ago in a car park in Kinsale I found a bag of around 30 mackerel dumped to rot. People can get to carried away with getting something for free from the sea's without realising the true costs.

The mackerel arriving means the start of the summer, more enjoyable shore fishing, lots of free bait and fishing action and im sure that some of the once a year mackerel bashers go on to develop a true interest in the sport and respect for the environment. I should know because i used to be one of them myself.