Float Fishing for mackerel

Really like the idea of fishing for mackerel this way. Tried it a couple of times unsuccesfully last year. Gonna give it another shot maybe down the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire or Coliemore. Just wondering how effective it is in comparison with feathering? Would I be better off using the feathers to get mack as bait and to know that they are there before switching to float fishing or can float fishing outfish feathers at times?

I used to fish for them with float all the time, had some great days in Skerries and Howth, in those days not many people used feathers it was all float fishing, Im talking about the 70's and 80's. If the fish are about you will catch them on float, which imo is much more sport then lashing out a load of feathers, the only problem down at piers these days is your float will drift and will get caught by the feather throwers, but its great to catch them on the float, sandeel, strip of squid, prawn and strip of Mackerel will get them 8 ft or there about under your float.

also recommend you use as small a float and as light a rod as you can get away with, mackerel are great fun on light tackle when they dont have a 2 or 3 oz weight hanging off them

machs on ligth rod and float as always been one of my favs way of fishing great fun
if they are there you will get them and added bonuse of wat ever else is biteing you have a chance of catching
gar/scad/pollock/bass have all fallen to a bait meant for macks

Will defo give it a shot so. Might try inside the harbour around the west pier a bit away from everyone feathering. Seem's deep enough and calm too. Thanks for the advice.

Using light enough gear - 10lb mono and a spinning rod so should be grand. Caught one on the spinner with this set up last year and it was great fun. prefer to catch one that way than 3 or 4 on a set of feathers.