hi, going to try fishing for mackerel with my carp gear, can someone who has done both tell me if ill get away with 2.5lb rods and .35 mainline,
also what line diameter do i need to make the multi hook feather rig and are my carp longshanks the same as 2/0 hooks?
also what line diameter do i need to make the multi hook feather rig and are my carp longshanks the same as 2/0 hooks?
In reply to Post #1
Carp gear will be fine, just use the same sized lead as you would when carping and you'll be fine. I'd stick to shop bought feathers if I were you..
Carp gear will be fine, just use the same sized lead as you would when carping and you'll be fine. I'd stick to shop bought feathers if I were you..
In reply to Post #2
dont supose you know the line size of feathers i like making stuff, oh and cheers
dont supose you know the line size of feathers i like making stuff, oh and cheers
In reply to Post #1
Gear will be fine. 2/0 hooks are on the next size scale, about twice as big as size 2s at least.
60 lb mono for the trace and 20/40lb for the droppers.
For me 4 droppers are enough, two are fine. 6 is overkill and will reduce casting distance.
Don't forget to wash all you kit including rods and reels thoroughly in copious amounts of warm fresh water.
If you have magnesium reels DO NOT go near a beach with them. Salt eats gear. Good luck, great eating but don't get carried away. 12 is plenty.
Gear will be fine. 2/0 hooks are on the next size scale, about twice as big as size 2s at least.
60 lb mono for the trace and 20/40lb for the droppers.
For me 4 droppers are enough, two are fine. 6 is overkill and will reduce casting distance.
Don't forget to wash all you kit including rods and reels thoroughly in copious amounts of warm fresh water.
If you have magnesium reels DO NOT go near a beach with them. Salt eats gear. Good luck, great eating but don't get carried away. 12 is plenty.
In reply to Post #4
thanks if i get 1 thats plenty its for the wife lol, i dont eat them, and thanks for the help
thanks if i get 1 thats plenty its for the wife lol, i dont eat them, and thanks for the help
In reply to Post #5
If you catch one, you'll catch dozens!
Just go on YouTube and you'll find a million videos on making up feathers and stuff
Post 4 covers everything else
If you catch one, you'll catch dozens!
Just go on YouTube and you'll find a million videos on making up feathers and stuff
Post 4 covers everything else
In reply to Post #6
Not strictly true unfortunately.... Especially as it is late season for macks and they never really turned up in big numbers this year. There have been some sporadic spots with loads but not many.
Not strictly true unfortunately.... Especially as it is late season for macks and they never really turned up in big numbers this year. There have been some sporadic spots with loads but not many.
In reply to Post #1
Use tiny ones the Shrimp ones mustad made always out fished anything else
and always use a perk on the bottom instead off a weight as often you will bag a bass on that bait the feather with tiny bits of fish too put 2 sets on LINKY POO 
Use tiny ones the Shrimp ones mustad made always out fished anything else
and always use a perk on the bottom instead off a weight as often you will bag a bass on that bait the feather with tiny bits of fish too put 2 sets on LINKY POO
In reply to Post #7
Maybe I'm just mackerel fishing's answer to Bob Nudd
Maybe I'm just mackerel fishing's answer to Bob Nudd
In reply to Post #8
Sorry Oldgeezer. Maybe from a boat 40 yrs ago. You won't often be catching a bass on a pirk casting off the beach. If mackerel are taking, you don't need to waste time baiting hooks. By the time you have baited them the fish may have moved on. They will hit anything with shine and colour. Don't complicate matters. Been doing this regularly for 50 yrs, I live 10 mins from Chesil beach. I really have tried everything. Fish when the fish are there. Get to know the local tides. Lure sets I use are Mustad flectors, effective, tough and catch well. First three casts, retrieve as lead hits water, next three, retrieve after a slow count of 2. Next three, after a slow 4 and so on until you touch bottom then keep working different depths. Retrieve the feathers with a steady pumping action and play with speed as well.
Sorry Oldgeezer. Maybe from a boat 40 yrs ago. You won't often be catching a bass on a pirk casting off the beach. If mackerel are taking, you don't need to waste time baiting hooks. By the time you have baited them the fish may have moved on. They will hit anything with shine and colour. Don't complicate matters. Been doing this regularly for 50 yrs, I live 10 mins from Chesil beach. I really have tried everything. Fish when the fish are there. Get to know the local tides. Lure sets I use are Mustad flectors, effective, tough and catch well. First three casts, retrieve as lead hits water, next three, retrieve after a slow count of 2. Next three, after a slow 4 and so on until you touch bottom then keep working different depths. Retrieve the feathers with a steady pumping action and play with speed as well.
In reply to Post #10
Where ever the Mackerel are the Bass will be in the areas I fish (Brighton to Newhaven ) by fishing a small pirk instead of a weight if a bass isnt around the Mackerel will grab it sometimes in preference to the feathers and baiting your feathers with a bit of fish will often produce results on a hard day its not rocket science ?
and I dont need to live next to a beach I have been Sea fishing on the beach pier sea walls and boats long enough and caught enough to know what does and does not work
Where ever the Mackerel are the Bass will be in the areas I fish (Brighton to Newhaven ) by fishing a small pirk instead of a weight if a bass isnt around the Mackerel will grab it sometimes in preference to the feathers and baiting your feathers with a bit of fish will often produce results on a hard day its not rocket science ?
and I dont need to live next to a beach I have been Sea fishing on the beach pier sea walls and boats long enough and caught enough to know what does and does not work
One thing to ensure is that you hose down rods and reels after use. Last thing you want is rusted rod rings and a seized reel. Salt water tends to find its way into everything.
In reply to Post #11
Initial questions from the guy were about making and using "feathers". You are right it's not rocket science. Be on the beach at the right time and you will catch. If the fish are there a trace of four and lead are all you need. Simples. If the fish are not there and you want to spend all day scratching that's a different story. The biggest secret to shore fishing is tides, productive times on any shore are usually just a few hours. For much of any day you are just wasting time.
Initial questions from the guy were about making and using "feathers". You are right it's not rocket science. Be on the beach at the right time and you will catch. If the fish are there a trace of four and lead are all you need. Simples. If the fish are not there and you want to spend all day scratching that's a different story. The biggest secret to shore fishing is tides, productive times on any shore are usually just a few hours. For much of any day you are just wasting time.
I use a 2.75lb century SP rod, 30 lb braid and my emblem 5000 and a 3 - 4 oz bomb depending how far I want to get out.
I buy my mack feathers off ebay, can't be assed tying them up myself. I've always found calmer days to be better mainly because they'll be up in the water and you can normally spot signs of activity to cast to.
Personally on a 2.5lb rod I'd only use 2 feathers to each trace.
Good luck mate
I buy my mack feathers off ebay, can't be assed tying them up myself. I've always found calmer days to be better mainly because they'll be up in the water and you can normally spot signs of activity to cast to.
Personally on a 2.5lb rod I'd only use 2 feathers to each trace.
Good luck mate
In reply to Post #14
I went to Chesil for an evening this Summer. It was bloody great fun... only fished a few hours but had 60-70 between me and a few mates. We used Spod rods to get as far out as possible which really made the difference on the day. I've never fished anywhere so busy... it made Linear look tame, but we out-caught everyone else, simply because we could get out that bit further.
Is it not a bit late in the year? I thought it was the hot weather that bought them in? My mates went a few times and it was noticeably better the hotter and brighter it was.
I went to Chesil for an evening this Summer. It was bloody great fun... only fished a few hours but had 60-70 between me and a few mates. We used Spod rods to get as far out as possible which really made the difference on the day. I've never fished anywhere so busy... it made Linear look tame, but we out-caught everyone else, simply because we could get out that bit further.
Is it not a bit late in the year? I thought it was the hot weather that bought them in? My mates went a few times and it was noticeably better the hotter and brighter it was.
In reply to Post #15
Yep. That's Chesil in the summer. You can get a few fish pretty late in the year but it's not predictable. This is a big wild storm beach, however gentle it looks in August and it does its own thing, that's why I love it. Some years it's generous and some years it will chew you up and spit you out. If ever you get the chance, get on the top of the beach at dawn in the middle of a storm, it's quite an experience. If you do, give it max respect.
Yep. That's Chesil in the summer. You can get a few fish pretty late in the year but it's not predictable. This is a big wild storm beach, however gentle it looks in August and it does its own thing, that's why I love it. Some years it's generous and some years it will chew you up and spit you out. If ever you get the chance, get on the top of the beach at dawn in the middle of a storm, it's quite an experience. If you do, give it max respect.
In reply to Post #15
Yes it's too late now, as soon as the 1st big autumn seas come in they bugger off.
Just as a side issue here - it's widely believed that as soon as you touch a mackerel it's going to die.
So please only catch what you're going to take for the table or as pike baits etc as returning them means you're in effect throwing back dead fish if you've handled them. Burns their skin I believe.
I've seen no evidence of this but apparently they'll swim off strongly then die a while later.
Yes it's too late now, as soon as the 1st big autumn seas come in they bugger off.
Just as a side issue here - it's widely believed that as soon as you touch a mackerel it's going to die.
So please only catch what you're going to take for the table or as pike baits etc as returning them means you're in effect throwing back dead fish if you've handled them. Burns their skin I believe.
I've seen no evidence of this but apparently they'll swim off strongly then die a while later.
yes agree too late for off the beach now you can still catch em out in the boat in some areas
but one thing I learnt years ago was if you want to eat your fish rather than catch for bait you should gut them straight away as someone told me
that within 15 mins as being a predatory fish its stomach juices are so powerful it starts to taint its own flesh !
initially I was sceptical but thought I would give it a try so chucked all the ones for eating in my livebait tank then cleaned them I also had a few that I treated as normal for comparison purposes
well I can confirm there IS difference !!!
but one thing I learnt years ago was if you want to eat your fish rather than catch for bait you should gut them straight away as someone told me
that within 15 mins as being a predatory fish its stomach juices are so powerful it starts to taint its own flesh !
initially I was sceptical but thought I would give it a try so chucked all the ones for eating in my livebait tank then cleaned them I also had a few that I treated as normal for comparison purposes
well I can confirm there IS difference !!!
In reply to Post #18
Nice one I'll give that a try, makes sense really.
You can't beat having a disposable bbq going and throwing them on it as you catch them. Squeeze of lemon half way through cooking and my god it's heaven!
Nice one I'll give that a try, makes sense really.
You can't beat having a disposable bbq going and throwing them on it as you catch them. Squeeze of lemon half way through cooking and my god it's heaven!
Reading ALL pages