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I\u2019ve been a dedicated carp angler, caught 20 lb pike, 11 lb zander, 3 lb perch, 2 lb roach, 10 lb barbel, nice chub, 40 lb tope, 22 lb cod, big conger plus 100 lb sting ray amongst many species around the world. But the humble mackerel are still one of my most cherished species.<\/p>
But they are also one of the most underrated UK sea fish and I\u2019ve winced at the many comments I\u2019ve heard of the years like they are \u201cstupid\u201d or will \u201cdie if you put them back\u201d.<\/p>
Yes, when vast shoals head into shore there is little skill in catching loads, even on a bare hook, but those times are few and far between and I\u2019ve only witnessed that twice.<\/p>
Once I caught 30 in as many minutes at Sandown Pier on the Isle of Wight and just filled a little Tupperware box with enough to eat for a couple of days and then put out a whole mackerel as bait to see if there was a rogue bass about.<\/p>
Big bass often follow the mackerel but on that occasion I didn\u2019t get one \u2013 maybe there was just so many about they\u2019d had their fill.<\/p>
The second super shoal happened at West Bay Harbour in Dorset and I let my partner Andrea catch plenty and even my son Bryn took time away from the dropnet to catch a few.<\/p>
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But because there were so many and you could even catch on a bare hook, I didn\u2019t bother fishing that day.<\/p>
I\u2019d rather pit my wits against them when there\u2019s just a few in a shoal, rather than tens of thousands, and catching a couple for the pot using light tackle is really fun.<\/p>
I like to enjoy my fishing on my own terms <\/h2><\/blockquote>
I like to enjoy my fishing on my own terms so I love to float fish for them, and they you can pick up bonus species like garfish, bass, shad, black bream, scad, anything that swims in the sea really. I\u2019ve even caught turbot and sea trout on my mackerel rod!<\/p>
If you want to more guarantee mackerel from the shore, the deadliest method is to cast out feathers a long way. And although it is very efficient at catching, it isn\u2019t really skillful and you don\u2019t get a fight off these plucky species.<\/p>
But float fish mackerel strip or half a sandeel midwater on a size 6 hook to 8-10 lb line on a coarse fishing rod, and you get a real battle and a fun way of fishing.<\/p>
Mackerel aren\u2019t suicidal and very rarely hook themselves in normal conditions so you have to be alert and strike when that float shoots down.<\/p>
But even then you don\u2019t always hook your quarry and it can be frustrating to miss a bite that has taken the float down 5 ft!<\/p>
But that is part of the fun and excitement, never knowing what you will catch and having to use skill and patience to catch something.<\/p>
For this light line work \u2013 and it is worth it as even a standard mackerel will give a good fight on light tackle \u2013 piers, harbours and breakwaters are the best option. Dawn and dusk are best for the super keen but you can catch at any point in the day.<\/p>
But you can fish for hours without a bite and then suddenly the fish come in and you can have a good day so to don\u2019t give up too early if you are struggling. May to September are the best months by far.<\/p>
And for me, mackerel caught and eaten the same day, and preferably put right next to a freezer block as soon as landed, is one of the tastiest fish in the whole world.<\/p>
Mackerel does decay quite quickly, and is one of the reasons Sunday trading laws were first relaxed hundreds of years ago, so I don\u2019t buy \u2018fresh\u2019 mackerel from the supermarkets. It is many days old and a pale reflection of what they taste like when first caught.<\/p>
That for me is one of the reasons why the mackerel is one of my favourite species as it is such a treat to catch a couple and eat them ultra fresh.<\/p>
They are also one of the prettiest fish in the world with their amazing bluey-green hues on their mottled, streamlined back.<\/p>
Add that to the great sport they provide on light tackle and it is easy to see why I love the humble mackerel.<\/p>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/5edfa8db0421a0.22974613.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"53194848\\"")