Trolling tips for mackerel

A local guide on techniques and rigs for catching spanish mackerel in the destin, florida area. As with all fishing, current conditions will dictate the best place to fish in the technique to employ. Unfortunately king mackerel tend to accumulate high levels of methyl mercury, so in spite of their deliciousness its not in your best interest healthwise to eat lots of it. Kingfish rigs, king mackerel bait and trolling rigs salt. Find out the tips and tricks from 3 fishing pros on trolling from a kayak. Proper anglers dont want the stigma of catching them or bei. Learn how to go fishing for spanish mackerel on the chesapeake bay and midatlantic coast. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel are both present in the midatlantic region, but spanish mackerel are far more prevalent and fishing for spanish mackerel is popular among many anglers when chesapeake bay fishing during the summer months.

Mackerel are very often seen foraging violently on the surface. Trolling speeds should be adjusted to sea conditions but 1,000 to 1,500 rpm or between 2 and 4 knots is a good. Spoons, jigs and trolling plugs are most likely to tempt juvenile schoolie kings in the 10 to 20pound range, so for the big smoker kings youll want to troll a spread of natural baits. Any saltwater boat that is seaworthy can be used for trolling. Its also popular along coastal inshore waters most seasons. Casting, drifting, trolling, and fly fishing will all put spanish mackerel in the boat. If looked after correctly once caught, they make great eating too. Discusses lures, line, leaders, areas to fish, characteristics and identification of the spanish mackerel, its habitat and season in the destin area and gulf. King mackerel kingfish fishing trolling rigging baits how to. The ultimate spanish mackerel rig catches mackerel anywhere by. This is one of the elements that attracts anglers to pursuing these fast and feisty game fish. Trolling for kings is done at relatively slow speeds.

Tournament pros share their mackerel fishing secrets for finding and catching monsters. The venerable clark spoon and similar lures flutter and skip just like small bait. Hot techniques for rodbusting king mackerel for the inshore atlantic and gulf fisherman in the southeast us with access to either a small boat or a long pier, the king mackerel are often the target of choice from april to november. Not only are they fast and taste great, but they look mean and have a serious set of choppers that can effortlessly slice any baitfish to pieces. The easy way to catch spanish mackerel best lures, spots. This seminar was packed with some great tips for spanish and king mackerel fishing, but at 43. Fishing for spanish mackerel for beginners fishtalk magazine. Spanish mackerel migrate up florida in the spring just ahead of the king mackerel. Oct 04, 2019 spanish mackerel and false albacore fishing tips. You need to dedicate yourself to the spanish, and accept the fact that you wont be catching stripers at the same time. Trolling allows the lure to stay in the water while the angler paddles for miles, making it the most productive fishing tactic.

Again, spanish mackerel are terminal feeders built from the bones out to see and catch smaller fish in front of them. You will find a lot more interesting and helpful fishing, camping and outdoor articles too. Caught on the right tackle they can be real fun to catch. However there is still a lot of technique to master when learning how to catch king mackerel. Finally, one last tip about chumming if youre slow trolling and chumming, make sure to be trolling in circles. Fishing king green water is one key to finding and catching 50 to 60pound smokers the big kingfish that win tournaments. Sometimes i will troll four rods, twoway back fifty to sixty yards, one half way back and one bait right up close to the boat in the prop wash. Aug 07, 2016 how to catch spanish mackerel a highly popular and effective way of catching the fast moving, predatorial hunters is by trolling baits and lures. For nearly 40 years jerry labella has been fishing the waters of the gulf of mexico and louisiana coastal marsh areas. While trolling is the tried and true method for catching spanish, there are a few different techniques that add a bit of sport to the effort. The ultimate spanish mackerel rig catches mackerel anywhere. Without a doubt spanish mackerel are one of my alltime favourite fish to target. Trolling covers more fishing area in a shorter time than any other method.

Troll near shore for spanish mackerel success gulf shores. How to catch school mackerel fishing monthly magazines. Best lures for spanish mackerel salt water sportsman. Clarkspoons, mackerel trees and drone spoons have caught more spanish than any other lure when trolling. Trolling for mackerel or how to catch mackerel with a paravane rig. Spanish mackerel respond well to all types of fishing techniques. Slow trolling tips and techniques trolling slow usually means a using a hard body lure or live bait of some type. In this episode of blacktiph, josh and mike from 1rod1reelfishing go slow trolling for monster kingfish with capt. Catching mackerel using metal slices ryan moody fishing.

Remembering the basics, and keeping it simple will lead to success. How to catch spanish mackerel professionals reveal their. Check out these handy and practical fishing tips for trolling reefs, bommies, and drop offs for pelagic fish species such as spanish mackerel. There are many ways to catch spanish, but trolling for them with live and dead bait is the most effective way. How to catch mackerel along australias east coast fishing world. Spanish mackerel are a terrific and in my opinion underrated game fish.

Trolling for king mackerel old salt fishing foundation. He likes to fish two king mackerel baits deep on downriggers, and at least two more on the surface in the prop wash. Put some lines out, set a course, and sit back and relax. Fishing tips to catch carolina kingfish salt water sportsman. Whether youre trolling lures for kingfish or have the opportunity to do some sightcasting, king mackerel rarely refuse a meal thats presented to them. Its a hugely popular fishing spot, but with over 18 miles.

Jan 09, 2020 impson and taylor say 9 knots is the best trolling speed for their boat in most conditions when trolling ilanderhorseballyhoo combos for marlin and yellowfin tuna in the gulf of mexico. When you are travelling at 56 knots looking for surface bait balls to cast to, and you have the trolling boards out, you can catch a spotty where youd least expect it. There is a lot of debate about techniques on trolling for macks. Jun 18, 2018 trolling for big king mackerel, which have returned to their summertime feeding grounds off the coast of alabama, is a tradition here in the deep south. For more information about spanish mackerel, check out the environmental defense fund. The specific techniques used for catching spanish mackerel using baits are slowly becoming a dying art, with more people opting for the easier. Jan 31, 2014 damian bowman shows how easy it is to get in the action of trolling for spanish king mackerel.

Catching spanish mackerel 101 the online fisherman. Cunning, sharpeyed fish like spanish mackerel really do advance themselves in areas with heavy fishing pressure. Perfect for kids, mackerel can be easily caught by trolling. Troll with a lot of line out and make sure the lures go into the front of the school, to avoid driving the fish down. Weather a yellow tail, slimy mackerel or a small bonito a. A roving king mackerel or wahoo may jump on your trolled bait, and a monofilament leader will be sliced in half before. They are widely distributed along the east coast of the united states as well as the gulf of mexico and the caribbean. Whether your close to the coast line or several miles offshore, trolling is often the most productive method for catching a wide variety of saltwater pelagic gamefish species. When the water is calm, the churned up surface can be seen from quite a distance away. Interested in techniques for when youre flyfishing or trolling for spanish mackerel. But king mackerel are always on the menu, whether as incidental catch of the bigger meatfish or when targeted on purpose. On our way back in from bottom fishing we decided to stop at the mouth of the inlet and troll for spanish mackerel.

Hot techniques for rodbusting king mackerel combatfishing. How to catch spanish king mackerel, the average angler. He has written about the tips, tactics, techniques, how to, methods and anglers who catch such species as tuna, wahoo, cobia, snapper, king mackerel, amberjack, tarpon, speckled trout spotted sea trout, weakfish, redfish red drum, atlantic croaker, flounder, and black drum. Jun 15, 2005 the prince of mackerel can be the king of nearshore water along the coast during the spring months.

Spanish mackeral scomberomorus commerson other names. Numerous huge king mackerel are caught all up and down the atlantic shoreline from ocean piers that extend only 750 or feet into the water. Ben and tim offer some basic trolling tips for mackerel. One of the more popular methods is drifting or trolling live baits. May 17, 2018 trolling can be as complicated or as easy as you want to make it.

They hit hard, take long, drag testing runs and fight all the way to the boat. Spanish mackerel migrate up florida in the spring just ahead of the king. Alsokeen to hear views around hard bodied vs skirted. Jun 22, 2018 on our way back in from bottom fishing we decided to stop at the mouth of the inlet and troll for spanish mackerel. This blog post will provide spanish mackerel and false albacore fishing tips. Spanish mackerel fishing in florida, an anglers guide.

I run the trolling speed of the boat up until the bait is on the surface and skipping with the front of the bait just out of the water. Florida king mackerel fishing, tips and techniques sarasota. But there are a few little tricks that make life not only easier for you, but they might even catch you a few more fish. Spanish mackerel are primarily caught in the nearshore ocean, from just beyond the breakers to a few miles offshore. Secondly there are a lot of articles about trolling for pelagic fish such as spanish mackerel macks that subscribe to just one technique on all occasions. However, like most things in the fishing world, trolling for kings can be improved in most cases by listening to a little advice from experts. Different situations call for a variety of techniques and lures and halco has every base covered. If youre slow trolling and chumming, make sure to be trolling in circles. Just like most predators, the spanish mackerel also take baits. Because to be able to dismiss techniques you have to try them at different times and compare them to your favourite technique when possible.

It also generally means larger fish, so prepare accordingly. King mackerel kingfish fishing trolling rigging baits how. Rigging must accommodate a wide range of techniques, including downriggertrolling, kitefishing, slowtrolling, drifting or even anchoring, any. Hearty blue runners are also great for slow trolling.

In this video i give you great rigs, tips, and techniques on how you can catch more spanish mackerel. Rigging must accommodate a wide range of techniques, including downrigger trolling, kitefishing, slowtrolling, drifting or even anchoring, any. The mackerel have currently invaded the tampa bay area, and they are everywhere. Since spanish mackerel are considered easy to catch, they make a great target for family fishing. Trolling is the most common method, with bait or live bait being the second. Watch for diving birds, boiling surface, and boats congregating around a certain patch of. Sep 25, 2006 the boat is rigged for bluewater fishing, with anglers making large catches of tuna, wahoo, dolphin and billfish. This technique is performed with the boat underway, motoring ahead at not more than three knots. D just wondering what your experience is with various trolling speeds lure types etc. Heres how to catch mackerel saltwater fishing tips. Although sardines are great baits, they dont hold on to the hook as well as a mullet or another hardier fish when casting far or trolling. Spanish mackerel are a pelagic, fast swimming fish that are prevalent throughout floridas coastal waters when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees. Take the kids along and let them enjoy the fight these fish give. Best lures to catch king mackerel salt water sportsman.

Laser pro 190s or 160s are the goto lures for general trolling using medium to. Trolling for spanish mackerel part 1 of 4 friday, july 01, 2011 tips. Trolling for mackerel or how to catch mackerel with a paravane rig this technique is performed with the boat underway, motoring ahead at not more than three knots. Spanish mackerel are coastal fish that travel in large schools and are found in the atlantic ocean, especially between new york and the gulf of mexico. Jun 19, 2017 slowtrolling for spanish mackerel and small king mackerel just off the beach is very productive during the summer months on the gulf coast. Rig with leader and a small egg sinker above the swivel to run just below the surface. Live baits are pulled from idle speed to 2 knots so they wont spin or tire quickly, and you can mix in dead baits as long as you keep the speed around 2 knots. This strategy involves covering lots of water and showing the fish different looks. Trolling for spanish mackerel part 1 of 4 fishing townsville. Comprised of a rod with a trigger grip, the conventional rod puts the reel on top of the rod not below it as is the case with spinning gear. King mackerel are voracious feeders that will hit a variety of baits. Best trolling speed for offshore fishing sport fishing magazine. Fishing for spanish mackerel carolina beach fishing report.

Whole dead fish balao, small mullet, strip baits, squid, artificial lures small offshore trolling lures, live bait small fish. Spanish mackerel trolling speeds spanish mackerel can really test you, like many fish types. They are found in the coastal waters all along the entire gulf of mexico coast and up the east coast of the united states to the mid atlantic. Much faster than that and the mackerel is likely to decide that chasing after your lure isnt really worth the effort. So i did the work for you and broke it down into the major points of how to catch mackerel below. To remain in warm water, spanish mackerel migrate out of the northern parts of the state in the fall of the year and return in april with the warming waters. Apr 03, 2019 spanish mackerel love a variety of small prey and lures that mimic glass minnows, sardines, plichards and other bait easily fools them with a fast retrieve. Dave magner provides some inside info to help you catch more mackerel on hardbodied lures. The prince of mackerel can be the king of nearshore water along the coast during the spring months.

Alan yates opens up the options for catching mackerel a very popular sea species mackerel get a lot of bad press. Use the tips and tactics in this piece to try slow trolling for king mackerel. Florida king mackerel fishing, tips and techniques. Trolling can also be an ideal method when working large deepwater reef systems where fish could be spread over a large area. As mentioned above, there are multiple techniques which will produce spanish mackerel. Trolling speed gets bumped up well above rockfish territory, into the seven mph. This linear shingle storm beach stretches from portland to west bay. Offshore trolling boats usually dont make good livebait fishing boats for king mackerel. Rigging swimming troll baits can really boost your catches. Deadbait rigs work from 1 to 7 knots, and you can mix them with spoons if you keep the speed at over 3 knots.

Trolling for big king mackerel, which have returned to their summertime feeding grounds off the coast of alabama, is a tradition here in the deep south. But conditions can get nasty when trolling 100 to 230 miles offshore, along the gulfs continental shelf. Fishing knots fishing tips inshore fishing spanish mackerel get our best posts delivered straight to your inbox. Mackerel are more than baitfish or a summer holiday pastime. Mackerel fishing tips from mackie mecca one of the prime mackerel locations in the country is chesil beach, in dorset. To accommodate for the oftenhooked kings that are sometimes eating the spanish mackerel, and to grant additional leverage, a lot of anglers fishing for openwater species use conventional tackle. The specific techniques used for catching spanish mackerel using baits are slowly becoming a dying art, with more people opting for the easier option of trolling lures, which can certainly catch them on the right days, but is by no means the most effective way to catch a better class or numbers of spanish. The easiest spread for trolling trolling for mahi mahi, tuna and kingfish fishing how to duration. We usually troll skirted squid patterns around 6 7 knots, with reasonable strike rate but am keen to hear others experiences. This seminar was packed with some great tips for spanish and king mackerel fishing, but at 43 minutes long, its quite the investment if you want to watch it.

Structure plays an important role in king mackerel fishing, and the thousands of oil rigs in the gulf make a natural place for kings to hold. On the troll for spanish mackerel fishing monthly magazines. Also see the battle of a 20kg yellowfin tuna on 10lb. Spanish mackerel love a variety of small prey and lures that mimic glass minnows, sardines, plichards and other bait easily fools them with a fast retrieve. A typical trolling spread for spanish mackerel is 4 or 5 lines with most below the surface and one on the surface.

This was a really fun day and we both caught so many fish. However the japanese spotted mackerel is a great all round eating fish like its bigger cousin the spaniard or spanish king mackerel. Mackerel are almost perfect predators fast, sleek and equipped with razor sharp teeth capable of effortlessly slicing through preyin short, a baitfishs worst nightmare. The step up from mackerel to proper sea angling may be a major one, but feathering with a string of lures is a fun pastime that is enjoyed by thousands every summer around our coast. I had always considered trolling to be the only serious method for catching spanish mackerel, until one afternoon at dusk, lounging at the beach with the kids, i noticed a single, silvery fish bolt out of the water like a porpoise, just on the far side of the. Spanish mackerel and false albacore fishing tips sarasota. The regulations for spanish mackerel are a minimum size of 12 inches fork length tip of nose to the middle of the fork in the tail and a limit of 15 fish per fisherman per day.

How to catch spanish mackerel plus free pdf catch card. These fish are coming that close because one of their favorite mealsthe menhaden shad porgiesare schooling. They commonly hit baits trailed for sailfish and marlin. Aug 21, 2019 sharks have better sniffers than mackerel, so if there are sharks around, you can bet theyll find your chum slick, and the taxman would love to make an appearance. Trolling for spanish mackerel and pelagic predators youtube. Pilchards, threadfin herring, menhaden, blue runners, or even spanish mackerel are commonly used baits that can be caught in our area. Fishing for mackerel three great methods sea angler. While there are several charter boats offering trolling trips for a nominal fee, it doesnt take a large boat to enjoy the spanish bite. Kingfish south florida tips tactics baits rigs florida sport fishing tv duration. You can also watch the video at the bottom of this post. In this article we cover trolling for mackerel, choosing the best fishing lures, and we even include a simple spanish mackerel recipe you can use to enjoy eating your catch. Dec 06, 2017 there are several public numbers gps coordinates within 7 miles that are extremely productive for kingfish. I enjoy swearing at these articles as they really arent doing justice to you, the reader.

Troll the outside of the school of spanish mackerel if fishing from a boat. One is to mix in with your trolling spread a light spinning outfit with a. Trolling with outriggers, also, sailfish seem to be attracted to slow trolled live baits fished in similar method as used to slow troll for king mackerel. Weather a yellow tail, slimy mackerel or a small bonito a live bait needs to be able to swim a little. Get some great mackerel trolling tips using hardbodied lures with this helpful article by dave magner written for ondeck by dinga. Finding a fish in the great abyss of water that covers the earth adds to these obstacles. Some fishermen use all planers or all trolling sinkers, but i like to begin with a mixture of them. On the troll for spanish mackerel nsw fishing monthly. How to catch spanish mackerel a highly popular and effective way of catching the fast moving, predatorial hunters is by trolling baits and lures. Trolling can also work very well for spotted mackerel, especially on the days when the spotties are not feeding aggressively on the surface.