Mackerel

Is this the end of the line for Mackerel? They are as scarce as hens teeth at the moment on the South coast and have been for the last 4 years. Today was my fourth blank, that is boat fishing from the shore out to 34 fathoms. I fished both the ebb and flood and everyone I spoke to had the same experience. Any good reports? Or better still, any thoughts on the subject. My own feeling is that the Icelanders/Faroese are putting a dent on the stock!

Icelanders/Faroese/EU/Norwegians/Everyone else

I disagree... Based on my observation in the forum... there are loads who post disappointments... but only few have been posting success and good catch. It maybe a case of getting busy fishing than posting or trying to guard their marks...

I have been fishing all year round since 2007 for different species and mackerel is normally the fish during summer. My catch have been consistent since I started. There are days that we get less than other days but never felt that the numbers go down. I have been going around basher marks on the shore and those marks have been producing macks in numbers from Early May year on year including this year when people say its slow or late coming in.... I have seen loads of people on those marks (reeling in macks by 4's and 5's) but have never heard anyone in the forum mention any of them.

Happy that when we need bait we know where to go and know that we'll get them...

Those countries mentioned may have put a dent on the stocks but I don't see those affecting shore marks. It's where the food in summer is for macks.

I am basing my observations on a long lifetime living a stones throw from the sea, fishing commercially and angling.

I have seen lots of anglers along the shore the last few years catch little or no Mackerel.

Kinsale harbour was always excellent for Mackerel in the summer months, however, there has been little or no Mackerel there for the last 2/3 years, apart from a couple of isolated occasions.

What I have noticed is a tendency for the fish to be absent or scarce up until July and a bit of fish around later than usual in the year (Nov/Dec).

It may be that it is different in different parts of the coastline.

Happy the guy in Limerick has no problem with his mackerel, down here last year it was easier to catch a bass than a mackerel.
Seen catches collapse over the last two years, and it is certainly not from lack of trying. I have anglers here from April through to November and they would all much rather be catching and fishing with fresh macky than buying frozen sandeel etc off me.

Plenty up here at the moment, probably the early season "pass" as the big shoals head north. Suspect the whole baitfish-predator wagon train has shifted a good bit northwards with temp and weather changes, and not so many macks take up residence round our shores as used to in summer months. Late summer/early autumn southward pass usually has the best fish here.

I don't really target mackerel but speaking to the lads on the East pier in Dun Laoghaire last year many commented that there were less fish and also that the average size was way down. One of them showed me the small joey mackerel in his bag. I don't know whether it's down to the Scandinavians or to climate change but it will be interesting to see how this season plays out.

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Id have to disagree too Holeopen. I fished 2 weeks ago and they were very plentyfull off the Waterford coast, where abouts on the south coast were you fishing?

I tried all the way from Barrys Head to the Barrell Rocks in the middle of Courtmacsherry bay over the last month and have caught 1 Mackerel in total from 5/6 attempts.
I know this area very well, having spent a half of my life fishing commercially as well as angling outside of that time.
The angling boats are reporting Mackerel blanks on a regular basis and the inshore commercial fleet working Mackerel gurdys have not being trying for them at all , given how scarce they are.
The bridge at Kinsale used to be full of anglers every evening at High Water fishing, all this summer so far you only see an odd straggler there now.

I have a very good Dual frequency Echo sounder (Furuno) and have seen no Mackerel marks on the High frequency bit so far, nor have I seen any Mackerel breaking on calm evenings as seen in past years.
I agree with the post from Beara, it is easier to catch Bass around here now than Mackerel!

I personally put it down to the Icelandic/Faroes impact on the stock.

The fish have moved further north in to those waters over the last 5 years and they have set themselves very high quotas.
This is the same timeframe that Mackerel have become scarce in the SW coast area.

Would be interesting to here more comments from other parts of the coast.

I personally put it down to the Icelandic/Faroes impact on the stock.

The fish have moved further north in to those waters over the last 5 years and they have set themselves very high quotas.

I reckon you're right and you're wrong. The stock has moved north out of EU waters into Icelandic/Faroes waters. THey traditionally had no/a very small mackeral fishery, but now they've expanded on that. As is their right, it's their waters and their stock. Meanwhile, the EU hasn't scaled back its fishery to reflect the fact that there isn't as much mackeral about as before.

I personally put it down to the Icelandic/Faroes impact on the stock.

The fish have moved further north in to those waters over the last 5 years and they have set themselves very high quotas.

I reckon you're right and you're wrong. The stock has moved north out of EU waters into Icelandic/Faroes waters. THey traditionally had no/a very small mackeral fishery, but now they've expanded on that. As is their right, it's their waters and their stock. Meanwhile, the EU hasn't scaled back its fishery to reflect the fact that there isn't as much mackeral about as before.

They originally had an agreed quotas with the EU but when this came up for renegotiation they pushed for a bigger quota as the fish where spending longer in their waters. They EU wouldn't back down there was no agreement and hence now they rape the sea.
Also as said above the EU still have the same quotas and haven't reduced them.

That's my understanding of it, I could be wrong but either way there feck all macks about the last few years.

Iceland's share of Mackerel in the NE Atlantic was 1% in 2006, but now stands at almost 23% in 2013. The Faroe Islands have increased its share from 4.6% in 2009 to 29.3% in 2013. This is just less than 50% above and over the total allowable catch for the NE Atlantic, that surely spells disaster!

Iceland's share of Mackerel in the NE Atlantic was 1% in 2006, but now stands at almost 23% in 2013. The Faroe Islands have increased its share from 4.6% in 2009 to 29.3% in 2013. This is just less than 50% above and over the total allowable catch for the NE Atlantic, that surely spells disaster!

Interesting facts mate. Have you a reference for your figures?

Fishing news, page 5, last week. Heading MEP slams Damanaki for lack of action.

It is a disaster if the EU does not reduce it's take by a commensurate amount. Have they? What's the chances of that happening then?

The Icelanders have cut their quota from 145,000 tons to 120, 000 tons this year and the EU/Norway have cut their quota by 89,000 tons.

I have heard from one source that the reason the Icelandics are playing hardball with the EU is because they are contemplating joining the EU and they do not want to open their whitefish grounds to EU fleets.
Therefore they hope to use the lucrative Mackerel stock as a bargaining tool to keep EU fleets off their grounds.

Recent evidence would suggest that that they are more reluctant now than they were a few years ago to join the EU, therefore I am unsure as to how credible this reason is.

errrrrr - cannot believe it but there are mackerel everywhere at the moment, how long they will be here may be another question but for the first time in 2 years we have macky.

caught a few mackerel easily enough off Dunbeacon near Durrus today too, prob would've been more but was a bit rough for the kayak- choppy northerly waves hitting westerly swell

Bingo! They arrived yesterday in force and fine fat fish they are too.

Please put reports here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42488&start=80