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Note: mackerel are extremely active when you
chum and use submerged lighting at night, in fact many times they go into a
feeding frenzy. Also the biggest mackerel are caught at
night. Click here for details on how to sign up for my newsletter
that tells you all about this seldom used technique. Also read
testimonials from avid fisherman
who use this technique. 
Food
Young mackerel feed on microscopic copepods. As they grow, they
feed on progressively larger prey. Adults will eat any fish smaller than
themselves, feeding heavily upon small herring, sand lance and young mackerel.
They also consume a variety of invertebrates such as copepods, crab
larvae, squid and shrimp.
Fishing
Season
May-September
Angling Tips
Atlantic mackerel can be found anywhere along the
shore, from deep water to shallow bays. Anglers fish for them from boats or shoreline sites such
as piers, jetties, bridges and beaches. some may be caught holding in structure
such as old ship and plane wrecks
A medium
spinning rod rigged with 15 pound test monofilament line is best for casting, although
adventuresome anglers may use medium or light action spinning rods with
a single 1 ounce mackerel jig (a good quality jig is a Bridgeport by Bead
Tackle Co.) or a saltwater fly rod rigged with a streamer. Any metal lure that
resembles a sand eel or other bait fish can be used when casting (for
example a miniature Hopkins, Kastmaster, or leadhead or even small plugs). also see
wreck bait and tackle below.
Many anglers fishing from a boat use a mackerel tree,
which is a small diamond jig preceded by several 1/0 surge tube worms.
These can be different colors or silver with red tips. The tree is
jigged so that it resembles a larger fish chasing small bait fish.
Typically the jig is dropped down 6 to 12 feet, lifted with a jerk,
allowed to settle, this action should be repeated at a rapid pace.
Mackerel can also be pursued with bait such as sand
eels, sea worms, squid or small fish on long shank hooks with on line sinkers.
Mackerel strike hard and them momentarily release the bait before
attempting to swallow it. Therefore, the greatest success is achieved by
setting the hook on the second strike.
Handling
Mackerel lose their flavor rapidly if they are not kept cold. Fish
should be iced immediately upon capture.
Cooking
Many people prefer marinating mackerel in citrus juices to lighten the full
flavor that the oil imparts to the fish. Marinated mackerel that has been
cooked skin down on a covered grill provides the angler with a pleasurable
ending to a day's successful fishing.
Another way to prepare mackerel is first remove the
head and tail, then split the fish down the back stopping just after entering
the body cavity. The fish will spread open, remove the entrails, wash the
insides, cover the flesh with 1/8" real mayonnaise, grill first the flesh side
then the skin side for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Young mackerel feed on microscopic copepods. As they grow, they feed on progressively larger prey. Adults will eat any fish smaller than themselves, feeding heavily upon small herring, sand lance and young mackerel. They also consume a variety of invertebrates such as copepods, crab larvae, squid and shrimp.
May-September
Atlantic mackerel can be found anywhere along the shore, from deep water to shallow bays. Anglers fish for them from boats or shoreline sites such as piers, jetties, bridges and beaches. some may be caught holding in structure such as old ship and plane wrecks
A medium spinning rod rigged with 15 pound test monofilament line is best for casting, although adventuresome anglers may use medium or light action spinning rods with a single 1 ounce mackerel jig (a good quality jig is a Bridgeport by Bead Tackle Co.) or a saltwater fly rod rigged with a streamer. Any metal lure that resembles a sand eel or other bait fish can be used when casting (for example a miniature Hopkins, Kastmaster, or leadhead or even small plugs). also see wreck bait and tackle below.
Many anglers fishing from a boat use a mackerel tree, which is a small diamond jig preceded by several 1/0 surge tube worms. These can be different colors or silver with red tips. The tree is jigged so that it resembles a larger fish chasing small bait fish. Typically the jig is dropped down 6 to 12 feet, lifted with a jerk, allowed to settle, this action should be repeated at a rapid pace.
Mackerel can also be pursued with bait such as sand eels, sea worms, squid or small fish on long shank hooks with on line sinkers. Mackerel strike hard and them momentarily release the bait before attempting to swallow it. Therefore, the greatest success is achieved by setting the hook on the second strike.
Mackerel lose their flavor rapidly if they are not kept cold. Fish should be iced immediately upon capture.
Many people prefer marinating mackerel in citrus juices to lighten the full flavor that the oil imparts to the fish. Marinated mackerel that has been cooked skin down on a covered grill provides the angler with a pleasurable ending to a day's successful fishing.
Another way to prepare mackerel is first remove the head and tail, then split the fish down the back stopping just after entering the body cavity. The fish will spread open, remove the entrails, wash the insides, cover the flesh with 1/8" real mayonnaise, grill first the flesh side then the skin side for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Saltwater structure and wreck fishing
The term "Wreck fishing" is when
you fish rough bottom, artificial reefs, and shipwrecks. The methods and
descriptions are generic and can be used for all saltwater areas and locations.
This section highlights on fishing specific species but more specific
information about individual fish speciesis is
available elsewhere on this site.
Finding good structure is trickly buisness and takes some research and practice. But with practice you can become a good fisherman. Depending on where you plan to fish or where you are located, there is allot of public information on where old ship wrecks and plane wrecks are located. This type of structure will hold many different species of fish. One of the best ways to find wrecks when you first get stated is to follow the charter captians, if you pull up to a wreck and the charters are pulling in fish, stop and try your luck. Make sure you document the gps location so you can come back at a later date.
Today, you can find information about wrecks from many sources, there are books, webpages, and user forums to aid you in finding good fishing spots. An easy structure to seach for on the internet artificial reefs. Theses Locations are widely published and many of the structures are large and easily found.
When you locate a wreck don't drop anchor right
away. Make three or four passes around the wreck in a circling mothing
documenting depths so you can determine the layout of the wreck . There maybe
many brocken pieces around the main wreck that will hold fish too. Also
make sure you monitor your sonar to make sure fish are there. some wrecks are
only seasonal. Also your sonar can give you clues as to the type of fish species
that is located at the wreck.
Bait and tackle
You
need to prepare before you make your trip. Do some research as to what live bait
is best to bring along. I recomend you use medium to heavy action rods
with conventional reels. Make sure all your tackle is saltwater quality. I use
30lb spiderwire line. I recomend you make up some quick change leader about
24 " long that can easily be replaced when you get a snag. tie on a swivel clip
on your main line that way you can change or replace rigs quickly. make sure
your rig has has the sinker on the bottom and a #4/0 hook about 18" above it.
Make sure the rig at the top has a hangmens noose type clip.
Before any
trip i catch good live bait for the trip. Click
Hereto see how i catch the live
bait. Different fish species take different baits. for example,
mackerel feed on small herring, squid and shrimp,Tautog like hard crabs or
clams. Trout eat only squid or clams. for fresh cutbait cut up into strips,
Dolphinfish, skipjack tuna or false albacore. Sea bass will bite on any bait,
but Squid is the basic sea bass bait. if you are going for larger sea bas
then you need to fish with large cut bait strips. The larger sea bass will be
located in the schools of smaler fish. The smaller fish may pick at your large
strip baits but they cannot swallow it. Larger fish will hold back until they
see larger baits. You won't catch as many fish, but they will all be of the
larger sizes.
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