Shore Mackerel Reports '13 here...

Hello all,
Happy to have got the nod to start off the thread again this year, 8th year running and the reasons I thought it would be a good idea back then are even more relevant today, especially #7 below. This is the earliest start by 3 weeks or so.

Some reasons why this is a good resource for this community of anglers:

1. Increase chances of catching nice dinner
2. Tempt you to try fishing for them with a fly rod or very light gear
3. Allow you to bring nippers along, they'll NEVER forget catching the first mack
4. If it works it might mean less time fishing for bait (if the bait is mack)
5. it might mean less need to haul in loads at a time for bait for the freezer during the season
6. Use the info to avoid dangerously packed venues (I have found the morning tide can be like a different planet, a quiet, safe one
above are the 'selfish' reasons, other reasons are:
7. If supported it could provide an annual 'database' on mack stocks, allowing rough comparison from year to year
8. Might cut down on the need to take extra macks in a session, which is good for the fish.

Please support it all through the season, and more important than reporting catches, please report blanks (as I am very well practised at).
Any confirmed information is going to be really useful to someone.

Thanks to all and tight lines!

Blackie

On the subject of *7, maybe some assessment of fish sizes could be included? Average seems to be getting smaller very year.

Let's see which part of Ireland gets the first one.

mackeral being caught off the pier in ballycotton yesterday at high water,seen one guy hauling in 4 in one cast..

mackeral being caught off the pier in ballycotton yesterday at high water,seen one guy hauling in 4 in one cast..

Was there myself. Have a few in the freezer. They were a fine size too.

not much oil in them this time of the year

mackeral being caught off the pier in ballycotton yesterday at high water,seen one guy hauling in 4 in one cast..

Was there myself. Have a few in the freezer. They were a fine size too.

not much oil in them this time of the year

mackeral being caught off the pier in ballycotton yesterday at high water,seen one guy hauling in 4 in one cast..

Was there myself. Have a few in the freezer. They were a fine size too.

Greystones south beach,,,,,,,few caught.

got 4 mackerel in north Connemara last night,the biggest was 38cm rest were a good size as well

Nice. First few caught off Downpatrick Head (Mayo) yesterday, sadly not by me...

Caught five decent ones in Galway yesterday, the biggest of which was 41cm. Tasty!

Saw at least 6 being taken off fanad yesterday!..tis nearly BBQ season!!

a few big maks taken at streamstown bay (actons campsite), clifden on Saturday

Got a full string of 6 macks from Bunagee Pier, (Culdaff, Co. Donegal) at high water on evening of Friday 10th May, must have been a small patch of them moving quickly as another hour went by and not a sign of another. Not a great pier for mackerel anyway other than at high water mid summer so a good result for this time of year.

good to here some fat mac coming in!

Anybody out there catching on the east coast at all ?

not much oil in them this time of the year

mackeral being caught off the pier in ballycotton yesterday at high water,seen one guy hauling in 4 in one cast..

Was there myself. Have a few in the freezer. They were a fine size too.

Very true, no smell from your hands after using them for bait for 3 days straight

Going to try east coast at the weekend will post any results.

1 hour spinning on Greystones south beach this evening. No macs showing.

Didnt witness it myself, but have it by a trustworthy mate that one mac seen caught on feathers during last week from West Pier DL.