Mackerel Reports '11 here...

Hello all,
There seems to be a growing interest in getting a central thread going for 2011 for mack reports. I hope this can be it.

Anyone with an interest please please support it by posting all the time, and please post blanks as well. Was good last year, over 350 posts and over 21,000 views.

Why do it? What I listed a few years ago seems a good argument to me:

"Why?..
A better idea of where and when the macks are about might:
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.

(also reporting a blank would be just as important as reporting a catch)

I will continue to put reports of my attempts during the season ahead, I hope others will join in"

I expect things will be quiet for a good few weeks yet, but don't forget the thread, ok let's go - what county the first full string of macks from the shore..... Sligo, Clare, Kerry, Mayo joint favourites in my book.

And as everyone seems to know, boat reports welcome here, just state boat somewhere on the report (very close to the shore in a boat always seems to be outside casting distance for me)

Please report blanks

Blackie

good to see you back again Blackie,none to report from around clifden yet but i did hear that there were a few caught in Galway bay not too far from the shore

I got a couple from the shore in clare over the weekend. That was over 3 hours with more pollack taking my bait. Will try again this weekend.

Welcome back blackiemc.
You're providing a great service.
It has been very useful over teh years.
Thanks.

We had macks between the forts in Cork Harbour as part of Cobh SAC's light line comp on Sun 27th March.

We had macks between the forts in Cork Harbour as part of Cobh SAC's light line comp on Sun 27th March.

Were there Many Pat or just the odd straggler?

Kev

They were there in numbers Kevin. Kept hitting our baits on the way down.

Hi,
Thanks for the welcome back lads. I didn't actually go away though, on the site regularly. Lack of reports due to lack of fishing just at the moment, looking forward to putting that right

Blackie

They were there in numbers Kevin. Kept hitting our baits on the way down.

Interesting.. Must be the slightly higher water temps. Bet they made a mess of the light rigs

fished rosslare and usual spots from the shore blankety blank.....

hi there,
not sure if this is relevant but below is a snipit from "Irish Angling Update - Sea Angling" web site.
it does mention some mackies.......

"While mackerel were scare on Sunday last month in the middle we were catching our Mackerel for bait right inside the harbour of Castletownbere, Co. Cork. And in good numbers too, it did coincide with the larger tank boats unloading their catches and pumping out their tanks. Whatever the cause, we weren't complaining.

We are anticipating some very good general inshore fishing in the next couple of months as the water slowly warms up and the Mackerel arrive in numbers. We are expecting a great year for Cod and Haddock fishing in particular."

the website: http://fishinginireland.info/update/sea_angling.htm

anyway good luck with this years fishing, stay safe and tight lines.

niall_b73

4 spinning sessions in East Cork & Cork Harbour area in past 3 weeks and no mackerel to report yet

Believe there was a few caught in Dun Laoghaire at the weekend...

Will this be made a sticky? Very interesting post last year.

One popped into the boat on sunday in cork harbour between the forts.

I had a very short session of mack bashing last saturday in Clare. I caught 3 big ones on the cliff on my 3rd cast, but had to leave due to very strong and dangerous winds. But I could say that 3 Macks in less than 30 minutes is a good start. They were used as bait in the aftrenoon session.

I guess its too early to call but its a promising start.

Tight Lines...

Bray Head, Co. Wicklow, 16/04. No Macks

last sat had 1 mack on last cast dead baiting galway didn't have any feathers, it was getting dark and i was busting for the jacks so couldn't check if there was more in it or was this fella on his tod

Venue-hampton cove balbriggan
Tide-low
18/4/11
20:00--22:00
Feathers

Tried one of my old reliables,which usually produces at low tide i know its early but the reports from dunlaoirghe got me thinking,anyway
One baby pollack zero mackeral,but did see a few gannets diving so ye never know!

We picked them up again in last Sunday's light line comp in Cork Harbour, between the forts.

picking them up 4 at a time off whitebay in the channel.
along with herring, yummy