Mackerel As Bait

Mackerel

Mackerel is best known in the North East as a bait for wreck fishing. Used over slack water on a jigger it will give you a better than average chance of picking up a ling.

It is much more versatile than this though, and has to be considered a serious bait for the shore angler.

Small cubes or strips of mackerel used to tip off a worm bait will tempt whiting, flatfish and the odd cod to the hook, while in the rivers it is irresistable to eels. Enough mackerel can be caught from piers or boats during the summer to last a whole seasons fishing - though wholesale slaughter as seen at some venues cannot be condoned - take what you need, and have fun doing it -- use a light spinning/fly rod with a small lure or float fish live sprat for an experience that is a world away from the 6 feathers on a 13' beach rod using 30lb line technique still used by some.

A superb fishing experience is to put on your waders and get into the water - fight the mackerel at "ground" level with a light fly rod --pound for pound I think it will give any trout a run for its' money, and to have the fish swim around your legs as it makes a final dash for freedom cannot be described in words.