Mackerel as Bait

[daveyboy]

Wondering is this an effective bait for bass? I've heard peeler crab is meant to be best but it's so handy to pick up some mackerel from the shop! Am I wasting my time aiming for bass with it. Would I pick up flatties maybe?

I should say I'm fishing in North County Dublin!

[tommyc]

if u cant get crab lug worm would be my second choice, but with all the time and effort put into planning a fishing session i personally wouldnt fish with mackarel as id have no faith in it, thats just my opinion.

[rustyhookthomas]

lug works best for me, put 2 or 3 on each hook!! big baits. it even gets me smoothies, crab is good too!
fish an hour or two each side of a good high tide and don't cast out too far or you will miss them.
tipping with mac will help but i rarely do this.
i dig my bait so cost is not an issue and it's always fresh

[trouble]

I have had bass on mackeral. Seen other get them too. Its a good all round bait in my opinion. Mack has to be fresh / fresh frozen to be effective , as It goes off right quick.

I find it hard to get fresh lug and crab given where I'm based and have to rely on frozen mack and frozen sandeel. Fine for rays etc not much good if your after flats although I am going to try thin strips of mack and smaller hooks and see how that goes for them.

Peeler is a great bait, if I could i'd use it all the time but....
I like to think( just to keep me going..) that as long as I put a reasonably decent bait in front of a hungry fish he'll take it regardless of what it is. Not sure of the validity of that but you gotta have faith!


If mack is all you can get,then get fresh ones and make the most of it.

Trouble

[daveyboy]

Thanks lads. Dug some lug today. How far do you reckon I would need to cast? Might try use my 9ft rod if I can get away with it