Enjoy mackeral bashing??

I know it's a bit out of season for this one, but here goes.

When it comes to that time of year when mackeral start to infest our coastline I for one would love to know where they are in droves, at the closest point to me. The reasons may be obvious but for me:

* A chance to catch lovely eating fish on my rod and line

* A chance to bring my youngsters FISHING, (my four year old is still asking when we are going fishing again after a great day in Kinsale last year, he can still tell me what he had to drink after we got home (it was only a small drop!)

* Get plenty top notch fresh bait

* try out some sea fly-fishing (some day lad)

Can we use the great resource of this forum to find out where the mackeral are when the time comes (and I mean in real-time eg. text or something like that)??

Any takers?

Blackie Mc

the only problem i see in postin about mack bashing is that the true bashers will take over and leave no place for us true fishers to stand and stock up the freezer....

its hard to fish during mack season with a rod cast out on the bottom with out every basher eejit crossing your line.. really annoying..

It is... hate them....

I know it is frustrating (and sometimes risky) to be surrounded by Macky Bashers (I've been there and sworn), but let's face it guys, a lot of us were hooked on sea angling as a result of our early experiences fishing for mackerel as kids on those long sunny days we don't seem to have as we grow older. Who can forget the thrill of pulling up string of mackerel on a handline full of coloured feathers or casting a tinny mackerel spinner on a whippy aerial of a glass fibre spinning rod and catching your first fish from the sea?

The shore is a big place and I'm sure we know a lot of places to fish not frequented by casual Macky Bashers. Bite the lip and move on, that's what I say.

My young son is close to having his first macky bashing outing and I'm looking forward to sharing the joy of this with him and maybe reliving some of those long forgotten memories......

Live and let live guys and if the going gets hot find another spot.

Nobody likes being jamed up to the next fella', with six feathers being cast out by every one around, but some places can take a lot of rods, eg. Kinsale Bridge, while not ideal for children, must have room for a few dozen mack bashers! There may be other places like this about that could take a fair few anglers.

Anyway, I'm wondering if there is some way forum users could tip each other off

Any ideas management or anyone??

Blackie M

its all wel and good saying the shore is a large place, try and tell the bashers to move off somewhere else...
There have been many times i've fished in a secluded place, had people walk past and see my frozen mackerel,and twenty minutes later there literaly six foot away from me bashing the water with something that resembles a fishing rod and a reel thats seen better days...
The thing that makes me laugh though is they tie on 6 feathers with ordinary kots put on a 3oz lead, using 5lbs line, and wonder why every time they get a full house the line snaps..
and all of a sudden there over to you to see if they can "borrow" a spinner, and when they say borrow its of the perminent type.

i'm all on for showing someone who is genuinly interested in fishing the ropes and have done in the past but there are those who just rape the sea of its mackerel, leave them to drown on the beachand throw them away before they go home, many a time ive seen shopping bags full of mackerel left behind, its such a waste ( at least it fills my freezer a bit quicker )

then there who are those who sell their catch to the crowd that has built up behind them, ive seen people trying to flog a single mackerel for two euro "because their fresh" and "you wont find them wriggling in tescos,will you"
at this point i show them the few (dozen) mackerel iove caught and tell them they can have as many as thay wany for dinner for nothing, which usually ends up with me getting a few euro in the pocket for being considerate and not ripping anyone off...

as you can guess i've had my fill of bashers (line 'em up and shoot 'em)


but i'm sure when the time comes we'll have worked out an arrangement to contact each other... i suppose even by private message, or if a post could be put up that can only be viewed by registered members ??? now there's a thought..

[quote="stevecrow74"]

then there who are those who sell their catch to the crowd that has built up behind them, ive seen people trying to flog a single mackerel for two euro "because their fresh" and "you wont find them wriggling in tescos,will you"
at this point i show them the few (dozen) mackerel iove caught and tell them they can have as many as thay wany for dinner for nothing, which usually ends up with me getting a few euro in the pocket for being considerate and not ripping anyone off...


I'm going to bring a couple of crates of Dutch Gold out to Howth,when the bashers are about,as alot of them seem more interested in getting pished than fishing :roll: ,mind you I'll make sure I mark up the cans :lol:

Another thing that irk's me is when they try to give you advice on catching fish,one lad last year thought the sandeel that I was using for bait was what I kept on catching :lol: ,he couldn't understand why I wasn't using feathers :roll:,and insisted that I'd never catch anything,except that small fish, with a float :shock: .

could not agree more.all of the above have happened to myself.I hate it when you have a bottom rod out and they go and catch it time after time.They just dont care and take anything stupid enough to jump on the hook,luckily they dont know what a hokkai is or even a koster.Then they look at you when they are pulling in four ata time :lol:
thats why I`m going to spend more time on the unfished surf beaches around Gortahork :)

pests at the best of time spinning for pollack on a summers evening in donegal all the effort of tying up a sandeel rig and bang a mackeral hammers it before ya get anywere near the pollack fickn pests :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

I'm trying to figure out which is depised more, the mackeral or the mackeral bashers!!

Maybe I picked the wrong title for this, but my intention for the reasons mentioned at the start was to get some sport/good fresh fish when mackeral are about.

IMHO most of the mack bashers will not be using this website, and if they are they'll be learning more about fishing when they log on to this website, no harm.

Many anglers will probably know how to avoid the bashers once they've had a few bad experiences.

I generally have enough blanks during the year to feel I deserve a session or two catching mackeral.

Is there anyone out there willing to share info so that if you want to catch mackeral you can get up to the minute info as to where they are?

This info could be used so that you know to steer clear , or to take the chance for some mindless fun

Blackie Mc

I have to admit to having Macky bashed with a K2.... Now THAT's fun!

My problem with macks is that when I have gone to the effort of lugging the BBQ, the charcoal and everything else that goes along with it down the rocks to my usual spot the feckin things have vanished..... :D BBQed pollack is just not the same!

On another point, aside from the fact that when they arrive, a distinctly unsavoury element, (a minority it must be said) also turn up and can quickly destroy a place with rubbish, and aggressive attitudes. There is also the issue of people who only fish a handful of times in the summer climbing in what can be V dangerous spots at the best of times for seasoned anglers. Bridges of Ross and Dunlickey are two classic spots off the top of my head. How more people arent drowned here is more down to good fortune than anything else.

Last year, whilst avoiding the mack bashers at the Bridges Myself and my missus climbed down onto an adjoining slab of rock we would be very familiar with that noone else seems to bother about, (super spot for wrasse, pollack and conger) we were soon joined by two early 20s lads waving around their brand new Lidl rods (it was just after last years sale) who proceeded to walk to the end of the slab and run in and out of the waves breaking over it to gain an extra few yards. This is an extremely dangerous spot to be in as the odd rogue wave can catch you unawares very handy if your too close, your facing America, the swell can be very severe. (your fishing into 70/80 metres of water at your feet) I had a word with them and even offered for them to come fish beside us and was told in no uncertain terms to p... off. :shock:

I have seen on occasion at the Bridges again, in howling winds, big swells and being drenched with spray and rain, a group of lads who had actually tied themselves onto the cliffs so they could fish away for the macks.... Bit much that. One last word, shockleaders, or more appropriately lack of. Theres nothing quite like a string of 6 multi-coloured feathers whizzing past your ear at a hundred miles an hour attached to a 6/8oz weight to make you duck....

On the original point of the post, I think knowing where the macks are would be handy alright but sure they can be in on one tide and gone the next.

Good idea the only problem i have in donegall is that I dont have a comp to post the info.Second If i`m not fishing I`m in the bloody pub !!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :lol:
maybe text is the way to go.

yeh sure i luv macks!! so tasty............. der was sum guys saying macks are alredy in............... interesting

cant stand the taste of the the little oily blighters.... just use 'em to pack in the freezer for the next fishing season...

Mack oil good for you, make u brainee!!

Anyone else interested in mack early warning system?

Blackie