mackeral

[sjh1]

No mackerel yet but this weekend I'd cod, wrasse and pollack off the rocks south of Newcastle (Near Shannaghmore Outdoor Centre).

Cod and wrasse caught with lugworm on a hook, fishing three or four feet from the bottom with a four ounce weight on. Simple set up.

Small pollack caught on feathers.

[RedLeader]

Not mackerel unfortunately but still, it's the first catch of the season.

[fourman]

I was out on Sunday just between the Copelands and Groomsport ,caught about a dozen mackies.
About a third of them to small for the barbie.
Also caught two small Whitting ,caught them all on feathers about three foot of the bottom.
So the mackies have of fish ly arrived ,excuse the pun.

[Mourneman]

for mackeral fishing a spinning rod is ideal,which you can pick up for around £20.00 or so,something about 8-9 feet is ideal,for the reel pretty much the sorta reel you would use for pike would suit with line ranging from 15 lb breaking strain for a single spinner set-up to around 25 lb fpr jigging on a boat,better to use an old reel for sea fishing as the sea water can destroy tackle,also run you reel under the garden tap & dry off after each use

[Rumblebum]

I usually try and get fishing from Ardglass a couple of times during the summer months, the rocks behind the golf course is a great wee spot.
Id use a 9 ft spinner rod and reel with a 3 hook trace and spinner on the end, (the same trace as mournemans photo). I usually seem to do well with this setup, though its really good fun using a float and bait, watching it sink always has me leap to my feet.
As Mourneman says, i always hose the life outta my gear when i get home.

Maybe we should have a wee fishing competion at Ardglass for a days crack?

[Rumblebum]

Yeah mate can do, a few beers and a wee barby would have to accompany us too of course.

Il have to have a look at the tide times and see if we can organise a wee saturday or sundays crack, oh there could be some serious competion between us all.

[RedLeader]

Don't let the pic of me with a fish fool you into thinking I have any idea what I'm doing

Ive never been sea fishing, used to course fish every weekend and match fish, what size rod is ideal for the sort of coastal fishing you guys are talking about? Do you use normal single hooks or trebles? what size hooks? breaking strain of line etc? Does the setup use a float?

Ive had a daydream of going and catching my own mackeral for a long time

This is a great idea, am sure we could come up with a spare rod somewhere. I really fancy a fishing and camping day, preferably cooking the catch on an open fire for dinner!

A NI-Wild Fishing competition could be great Could you lend me a rod ? I gave all my gear away when I stopped fishing

[Dowser]

A NI-Wild Fishing competition could be great Could you lend me a rod ? I gave all my gear away when I stopped fishing

Agreed... This is a brilliant idea.  I would be well up for this.

[Kayakgirl]

I wouldn't mind getting in on this..

[Dowser]

Not mackerel unfortunately but still, it's the first catch of the season.

I notice Redleader didn't post the photograph of the fish I caught on the same day in Ballyhalbert 

[Dowser]

Lol size envy

Off topic - do you know what the rig just off shore at ballyhalbert is? ( has a jcb on it) It might not still be there I noticed it during the may bank holiday.

It's still there...  It's there to lay new sewerage pipes.  There has been a lot of new development in Ballyhalbert over the last few years and the existing system couldn't cope with the new levels of waste created.

I would like to think the new pipes will be carrying treated sewerage out to sea and not raw sewerage or I wont be eating anything from that bay again.  To be honest, even the thought of treated waste being pumped out has put me off 

[Rumblebum]

Not mackerel unfortunately but still, it's the first catch of the season.

I notice Redleader didn't post the photograph of the fish I caught on the same day in Ballyhalbert 

Don't fall for it! Dowsers only looks bigger cus the crafty beggar is closer to the camera!

It's one of those father ted moments, no Dougal those cows are wee cus they're far far away.

[sjh1]

Ive never been sea fishing, used to course fish every weekend and match fish, what size rod is ideal for the sort of coastal fishing you guys are talking about? Do you use normal single hooks or trebles? what size hooks? breaking strain of line etc? Does the setup use a float?

Ive had a daydream of going and catching my own mackeral for a long time

Sea fishing is easier and better! Plus you can eat the catch.  Eight or nine foot spinning rod is fine. About 15lb line is good.

We usually just fish with feathers and a three or four ounce weight. That or a spinner. Two very simple set-ups and great for mackerel when they're in.

If fishing with bait we were shown a great setup by two fellas there at the weekend. It's a normal single hook. Stick a weight on at the bottom of the line. Then tie a loop about three or four feet up from the weight and stick on a hook here. Thread a lugworm onto the hook and cast away. No need for a float. We got cod and wrasse like this. Ate the cod battered tonight, was munch.

I would probably be up for the Ardglass fishing competition and a few mates might as well.

[Mourneman]

not Mackeral,but the pike are really starting to feed 

fish by paul surginor, on Flickr

[Dowser]

Not mackerel unfortunately but still, it's the first catch of the season.

I notice Redleader didn't post the photograph of the fish I caught on the same day in Ballyhalbert 

Don't fall for it! Dowsers only looks bigger cus the crafty beggar is closer to the camera!

It's one of those father ted moments, no Dougal those cows are wee cus they're far far away.

It is the fish I caught but, I lifted it out of the photo in Photoshop, enlarged it by 10 and then stuck it back in 

No magic perspectives lol