[Danny Meagher]

Morning,

I want to try an specifically target Mackerel off the top this year, has anyone here tried it before?

Were you successful?
Were you targeting Bass and was the Mackerel a bycatch?
What would size lure would you recommend? I was thinking in the 50mm bracket?

I reckon they would be great sport off the top on LRF tactics, and would make for some great pictures.

Danny.

 

[kevin white]

not tried my self, but we will target the macs this year for sure on LRF gear, it'll be great fun, just remember not to handle the fish with bare hands if you intend on C & R .

kev

 

[Tim Griffin]

Danny, had a few last year on late evening sessions as a by-catch. Had mackerel on a patchinko and mag popper (10cm). If I was going for them deliberately off the top, I would go for something small (50-90mm) with maybe a teaser fly or some flash on the treble. Perhaps a small Chug Bug would do the trick?

 

[Jeremy Hayden]

It's gonna be a target for me this year as well, got to be some fun to be had.

 

[Keith White]

Last year I was trying silk loop tactics for gars. Had over 70 'on' in one short session but interestingly, a few mackerel screamed off with it too.

Something very small and bright I reckon 30 - 50 mm might be ideal.

They certainly hit surface stripped and stopped fry patterns when fly fishing.

 

[Bob]

Mackerel off the Top

Hello Danny, had a few on the Megabass Dog-X in the smaller size,(French Pearl) took it no problem. Great crack!

 

[Mark Sleep]

A starting point is most of the lures mentioned in the 'Ultralite WTD Lure' thread in the tackle section. I cannot wait to target them personally. I think I'll be starting subsurface first, then migrate up on top.

I have only fluked a couple up top previously, but have never fished the small small lures

 

[Ben Field]

Yep, I'll be in to it as well this year. Should be great fun on the light stuff!

 

[Tom H]

Have done it a lot of times ( fly & plug poppers). But mostly just as it's getting dark. had one of thous magic nights a couple of summers ago. Just on high tide in the dark was working a mag popper and got a doz or so. Interesting thing is its the only time Ive caught mackerel in total darkness.

 

[Marty H]

Like Tom above I have had alot of mac at dusk on poppers, for me its always been Bobs Bangers (fly) around 2 to 3" long. Great fun when the go off on the top, properly explosive.

Marty

 

[Nick Phillips]

Done lots of this and its great fun.
I tend to use the small ChugBugs and fish them 'fast and erratic'.

 

[Keith White]

The scope for this sort of stuff is endless and I'm so pleased everyone here feels they talk about this on the forum.
Mackerel get a bad rep in some quarters but any saltwater fly angler will laugh...
Time to get the plug and lrf man in on the action i think.

 

[Tom H]

If I ever get sick of catching mackerel its time to hang up the rods! One thing I will say but any time Ive fished UL for them never got as good fight of them as such:???: Yet give them some stick on slightly heavier gear and they pull like stink!

 

[Mick Ward]

If I ever get sick of catching mackerel its time to hang up the rods! One thing I will say but any time Ive fished UL for them never got as good fight of them as such:???: Yet give them some stick on slightly heavier gear and they pull like stink!

That is a very interesting observation Tom, I too find that with some fish, the more stick you give them the better they go. Smooth Hounds are one species I find that do that.

I will be looking to get some mackerel on the baby Patchinko and the Megabass Coayu Slide Sinker



Or the standard Dog-X



I once had two mackerel at once on a Rapala Skitter Pop 12cm, mental.

 

[Simon L]

Oooooo i like that Dog-X Mick !!

 

[Mick Ward]

Oooooo i like that Dog-X Mick !!

Imagine them on the Injection Si..... I canny wait.

 

[Carl B]

feathers must be classed as lures??, dont forget if they are there they will take anything that moves, float fished feather trace retreived must work for topwater

 

[Simon L]

Imagine them on the Injection Si..... I canny wait.

What size & weight are they Mick ?

 

[Mick Ward]

What size & weight are they Mick ?

The Coayu Slide Sinker is 7g I think and about 70mm, and the Dox-X is about 80mm and if I remember rightly and 8g. They also do a Junior Dog-X that is about 70mm and 6g. My mate Jighead done well last year on them, as I said he had quite a few species and bass to over 6lb, awesome!

 

[Andy Mason]

Has anyone tried a plug on the end of a few mackeral feathers rather than a weight? I've thought of this with one or two heavier diving plugs that might get some distance.