Using mackerel head for bass

Can anyone describe for me how to set up a trace for fishing for bass this way and what way to hook the bait and size hook length of hook length etc as I heard this method is working quite well at the moment in certain beaches and would like to give it a go bass up to 12lbs are being caught and released and I got this information from a reliable source...

Excellent fish. Never heard of using Mack heads. Interesting.......

I have never rigged a bait this way but I'll have a guess.

I'm thinking that a Pulley Pennel would be a good start. 2 x 3/0 or 4/0
If you hook the fish in the mouth... Hoot into the mouth and point out the bottom Jaw. Then the pennel hook out through the top of the mouth.

Anyone else got a good method :?:

Kev

I've really only used mackerel heads for conger but if you look at the hooked on bass book it recommends a similiar method. A 6/0 hook is passed throught the bottom lip through the hard top of the mouth. The point of the hook will always remain exposed and the head is rock solid. I've never had much use for a penel for the head with smaller hooks as both hooks usually bcome masked. Make sure the guts are hanging out as this is where the sent come from. A mackerel head can be cut in half top to bottom so a smaller 4/0 or 3/0 hook can be used.

Donagh

I've heard of using a mackerel head/guts for bass before. Usually the head is cut off at an angle to expose plenty of cut body and guts to get a large surface area to leak scent.

The way I've seen it pictured is to hook through the mouth but I'm not sure that's the best way. If you watch a fish or a bird, for that matter, try to swallow a 'broken' fish, they'll always try to get it down pointed (ie head first) end first.

So I'd go for the pennel as MAC says, but make sure the hook points point towards the body rather than the mouth end of the bait - one in the mackerel's snout/mouth and one in the body end. That way, when the bass takes the bait, the hooks should automatically be in striking position. You might want to put a fair bit of bait elastic or better still a couple of rubber bands on to make sure the bait doesn't slump and mask the hook point.

One thing to note about elastic bands is to wash them well before use. I don't know what they dust them with to stop them sticking together in the packet but it's as bitter as hell - and if we can taste it, it may put fish off.

Just a few thoughts....

Haven't tried it myself, but the Stinger rig described by Adam S might be worth a go:

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... php?t=6709

Hi

Another option is to use a zip slider with a 6-10 foot flouro snood to a treble. You embed two of the treble hooks in the head - no need for elastic or thread as it's almost impossible to shift - and the remaining hook is always available, ideally positioned close to the eye. I use a 4/0 VMC treble for this as it needs to be sharp. Cutting on an angle is good for the scent but I've heard that bass also hunt by sight and the big mackerel eye is a key to success. The direction of the hook is not as important on a head as it would be on a flatter etc. Chuck it into the surf and let it roll around using a relatively small lead. The alternative is to float fish it in the surf tables, allowing a small float drag it back slowly whilst staying in contact with it, rod in hand, at all times... You could always freeline it akin to the recent piece about crab for bass in IA.

Just my tuppence worth... said to work best in winter on storm beaches.

Getting two trebles out of a highly annoyed bass at night would be fun :lol: and they're a real nuisance in a landing net. Still, it would up your chances of a decent hookup no end, I'd imagine.

Theories are all well and good until there tried out in the sea. I've used mackerel heads alot in the past but they are a big fish bait and require a big hook. Mack heads lead to missed bites from smaller fish. Penels for big baits get around this normally but I've tried them for mack heads and they only caused more lost fish. Being afraid to use a big hook for big bait will cost missed fish. As said a single big hook through the snout will sequre the head without need of anything else.

Donagh

Getting two trebles out of a highly annoyed bass at night would be fun

Not an issue in Mayo I'm afraid! :D

Generally speaking I am told that you only use 1 treble not a pike rig, and that since two are embedded in a mackerel head, you only have to worry about the standard number of hooks...

I know a few people who swear by it as a tactic on a storm beach in winter only, and they do it as described, although one if I recall says that you can cast a frozen head freelined, since the weight is more than enough for a short lob cast into the water tables etc.

Theories are all well and good until there tried out in the sea. I've used mackerel heads alot in the past but they are a big fish bait and require a big hook.

Good advice Donagh. I tend to avoid really big baits like this because of missed bites. If I was using a mackerel head, I think I'd be looking at a 5/0 or 6/0 hook (which still looks tiny in the mouth of a big bass :D)

Thanks for the suggestions as Kieran said its supposed to be a great method for catching BIG bass in the surf beaches during the winter thanks for your replies ill let you all know how I get on when I try it :wink:

we use this a bit off one of the deep surf beaches down round here. have had bass to 7lbs using it. we do tend to use smaller joey heads and a 6/0 between the eys, similar to a flapper. one thing is to leave ure reel in free spool as the bass tend to hit the bait pretty hard and run while swallowing it. u can try small whole calamari's as well. usually a lob of about 40-50 yards works for us but they can be much closer.also we hav found a running ledger with a 6 foot 15lb flourocarbon (frog hair) hook length and a 3 ounce flat leads the best set up

I think it does help to have a big bait for bigger bass but surely with bass the key is to have the least amount of terminal tackle and that the mack head, squid or whatever just wafts around in the tide. now seeing as most big bass forage round on the margins it might be wise to try a big bait with nothing except your hook in the darkness. they re extremly wary fish as anyone who has chumed for mullet will have seen. They will cruise up the slick and then head off as soon as they see anything out of place. remember that any fish over 8 or so pounds will not be hunting all that much but rather be a scavenger and will have plenty of time to examine the bait as they are confident it wont swim off, so the less terminal tackle there is to see and the less resistance from the bait the better. Just my two cents

i'd agree with u liam hence the use of flourocarbon and the reel in free spool. we need the lead as the beaches we fish there is a very repid shelve for about 20 yards and a bait with no lead will be washed up un the beach withing seconds in a big tangle

have u ever tried using live hardback crabs with some foam super glued to their back, hook thru the vent and out the back leg. let it float around out there on the shelf and see how you get on

I think it does help to have a big bait for bigger bass but surely with bass the key is to have the least amount of terminal tackle and that the mack head, squid or whatever just wafts around in the tide. now seeing as most big bass forage round on the margins it might be wise to try a big bait with nothing except your hook in the darkness. they re extremly wary fish as anyone who has chumed for mullet will have seen. They will cruise up the slick and then head off as soon as they see anything out of place. remember that any fish over 8 or so pounds will not be hunting all that much but rather be a scavenger and will have plenty of time to examine the bait as they are confident it wont swim off, so the less terminal tackle there is to see and the less resistance from the bait the better. Just my two cents

thats very informative and interesting for a bass heathen like me

have u ever tried using live hardback crabs with some foam super glued to their back, hook thru the vent and out the back leg. let it float around out there on the shelf and see how you get on

I heard about that method from a Charter Skipper in the Thames Estuary in England ( mentioning no names.....) who was shown it in Florida by another Thames Estuary Charter Skipper (still not mentioning names...... :D ).

Worked astoundingly well in tidal creeks, apparently.

:shock: Now that is almost too good! :shock: Almost! :D

Where the superglue! No, on second thoughts I'd probably only glue my fingers to a bunch of small angry crabs and crash the car trying to drive home! :roll: :wink: