Shore Mackerel Reports '14 here...

Finally I've had a proper "mackerel jumping on the hook" experience. But be careful what you wish for.
As I parked on the pier in Ballycotton an hour before high tide I could see the half-dozen Asian lads landing multiples.
I caught about 30 in the first 10 minutes. Ratio 1:5 in terms of size, decent:tiddlers. No casting required, just plop the feathers off the edge of the pier. A frenzy of mackerel.
However, it was getting embarrassing. I only wanted decent size whereas everyone was killing everything and those plastic fish crates were brimming.
I went across to the breakwater and fished there in privacy. Kept the decent sized ones, returned the tiddlers.
Not uncommon to catch six tiddlers at once; would then be due one decent keeper.
It reminded me of trout fishing when I was young. The river at home had been restocked with fingerling trout. It was frustrating catching and returning so many of these sprat; the rarget was the decent fish.
But overall happy to nailed some proper mackerel.


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Alot of them joeys are half screwed if thrown back anyway. If not with a jaw disfigured or a false hook in the belly, touching them with dry hands or off of the pier and dirt can leave them succeptable to disease. Last few nights i have caught like you said 5:1 ratio returning the joeys as bet i can without handling. I think i will start keeping a few joeys for baiting the next night i am out.

Tea towel when handling fish you intend to return.

Won't get on about foreigners fishing
I said my piece before.

Blood boiling at the moment

Tea towel when handling fish you intend to return.

Won't get on about foreigners fishing
I said my piece before.

Blood boiling at the moment

Can mackeral be caught at night?

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Can mackeral be caught at night?

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Do a bear s*** in the woods
I find just as darkness descends they go berserk for anything that glitters

Just don't fall in

14 macs Bray pier early this morning. Could only stay half an hour. Tide was low so I was surprised. They seemed to have passed on after ten mins

Can mackeral be caught at night?

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Do a bear s*** in the woods
I find just as darkness descends they go berserk for anything that glitters

At dusk they have gone into a feeding frenzy the 2 weeks, I've noticed after dark you still get them on tinsel feathers , but the numbers caught decrease only to be replaced by Pollock and scad.

On a side note I agree with returning what is not needed, hold the hook at the eye and shake them off, they have a better chance of survival in the sea then in a plastic bucket. If they do die after being returned they will be eaten by other sea life be it seagulls, other fish or crabs.

Tea towel when handling fish you intend to return.
moment

Not a good idea for mackerel, you will still damage the skin.

Finally I've had a proper "mackerel jumping on the hook" experience. But be careful what you wish for.
As I parked on the pier in Ballycotton an hour before high tide I could see the half-dozen Asian lads landing multiples.
I caught about 30 in the first 10 minutes. Ratio 1:5 in terms of size, decent:tiddlers. No casting required, just plop the feathers off the edge of the pier. A frenzy of mackerel.
However, it was getting embarrassing. I only wanted decent size whereas everyone was killing everything and those plastic fish crates were brimming.
I went across to the breakwater and fished there in privacy. Kept the decent sized ones, returned the tiddlers.
Not uncommon to catch six tiddlers at once; would then be due one decent keeper.
It reminded me of trout fishing when I was young. The river at home had been restocked with fingerling trout. It was frustrating catching and returning so many of these sprat; the rarget was the decent fish.
But overall happy to nailed some proper mackerel.


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Metal lures will pick out the bigger fish, size 1 single barb-less hooks will give fish you don't want the best possible chance going back.

A plugging rod and some braid is a much more enjoyable fishing experience and always caught me more than enough for food and bait.

Agreed - had a 1lb 4oz mack on a light spinning rod a few weeks ago. Was convinced it was a decent bass. Incredible fun on light gear, they run like steam trains.

just catch hook and shake em off

Tea towel when handling fish you intend to return.
moment

Not a good idea for mackerel, you will still damage the skin.

Used when foul hooked otherwise my single de barbed hooks are just turned upside down fish slides off.

Hate seeing people using trebles for Mackeral almost every fish dies .

Mackerel were being caught in Clarecastle Pier in the Fergus Estuary last Monday.

yesterday 4 hours fishing CAHORE .rocks ..from 8.30 to 12.30 no any mackerel !! and then stop on DALKEY FOR 2 HOURS FROM 14PM TO 16----nun!!

Can mackeral be caught at night?

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From my experience in the last hour of daylite they are feeding like mad and you are pulling in six at a time and as soon as it gets dark you stop getting them. I dont know if they cant see the feathers in the dark or wheter they are full up and stop feeding. I know flatfish and cod etc can see worm in the dark but the mackerels eyesight could be different. The feathers that glow in the dark would probaly be the best. I only caught a very odd mackerel in the dark

Hi folks, anyone know if mackerel have been caught at Greystones recently?
Thanks if you know. Regards.

any mackerel being caught Downpatrick head mayo

Fished Greystones from before high tide until 2 hrs after today. Glorious weather and conditions apparently good. Not a tap. Spinning a variety of lures.
One fellow angler caught two with 30mins in between and that was all the action.
One wonders where have all the Mack's gone. .