Species target guide
Mackerel Fishing
Mackerel fishing is where so many sea fishing memories begin: bright fish, busy water and a simple setup the whole family can share. Whether you fancy a string of feathers or a single shiny spinner, mackerel are fast, plentiful and wonderfully forgiving for beginners. Here is everything you need to land your first off a Cornish harbour wall, pier or beach.
Mackerel are fast, shoaling fish that chase small fry near the surface through the warmer months, frequently coming within easy range of the shore.
Your first setup
A spinning or multi-purpose rod with a string of feathers, a single metal lure or a simple float rig is all you need.
- Best for
- Families and beginners after a fast, fun summer fish that's accessible from piers, rocks, beaches and boats.
- How it fishes
- In summer shoals close to shore, feeding best around dawn, dusk and a moving tide when small fry are pushed up to the surface.
- Bait & rigs
- Mackerel mostly fall to lures — feathers, daylights and small metals — though a strip of mackerel under a float works well too.
- Safety
- Only take what you'll eat, dispatch fish quickly and cleanly, and avoid leaving unused catch — mackerel are best eaten fresh that same day.
- Good to know
- When a shoal is in, the action is non-stop and simple enough for children — it's how a great many of us first caught a fish.
Few things say a Cornish summer like feathering for mackerel off the harbour wall as the sun drops — supper doesn't come fresher.
Safety first
Only take what you'll eat, dispatch fish quickly and cleanly, and avoid leaving unused catch — mackerel are best eaten fresh that same day.
BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BUYING FISHING GEAR...
When asked which fish a beginner would like to catch, the answer is more often than not, mackerel!
Mackerel can be caught all around Cornwall but some suggestions are: Padstow area headlands, Port Isaac, Boscastle, Mullion, Porthcurno, Lamorna, Sennen, The Lizard, the rocks off Porthtowan, Helford, Mevagissey, St Ives, Kennack Sands, Coverack, Porthleven and Charlestown
Mackerel live just about anywhere and are probably one of the most prolific fish in Cornish waters. The ideal fishing methods to catch Mackerel are spinning and float fishing.
SPINNING FOR MACKEREL
Spinning is a hands on, active fishing method. A lure or spinner is attached to the line which is then cast out and wound back in to make the lure imitate a swimming fish that a mackerel will not be able to resist!
As mackerel are one of the easiest fish to catch, you do not need expensive lures as the cheaper metal spinners are just as effective. An alternative to a single spinner is to cast out a set of feathers which then imitate a shoal of small fish as you reel them in. This way you can catch multiple mackerel at the same time.
Please see below for our recommended products for spinning for mackerel - please click on our links to browse all products suitable for spinning.
FLOAT FISHING FOR MACKEREL
As with bottom fishing, this method of fishing uses a baited hook but by using a float mid line, you can decide where your hook is going to stay in the water - as bass swim all over this is a good method and will involve some trial and error to determine the correct depth for a successful catch. Float fishing is exciting as once the float disappears it's both hands on the rod & reel ready for the retrieve!
Suggested bait for mackerel would be sand eel, worm, prawn or shrimp.
Please see below for our suggestions below for a fishing rod, reel and tackle to fish for mackerel by float fishing. All other suitable products can be viewed by following our links.
Suggested Fishing Equipment for Fishing for Mackerel
We have put together a suggested fishing reel, rod, lures and tackle which will give you everything you need to fish for mackerel using spinning lures or float fishing. The Great White spinning rod is a fabulous 4 piece carbon rod which not only performs well, but looks great too so you will be the envy of your fishing buddies! Being 4 piece also means it is a great option for travellers.
This rod is also suitable for all sorts of other fishing such as bass fishing so would be a good investment. If you are looking for a small cheap rod to take on holiday or keep in the car, then one of our 6 piece or telescopic travel rods would be a good option.
These are suggestions only so please click on the links to browse all spinning rods and fishing reels as we do cater for all budgets.
** 10% discount is deducted automatically on all orders over £70 **
