Cranfield Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 A friend telephoned me last night to say that all day yesterday, the whitebait were throwing themselves on the beach and the mackerel were right behind them. He also commented on the large Chinese contingent there, that were filling plastic dustbins . At least they were going to eat (or sell) what they caught. Unlike a lot of the other "anglers", who having caught enough to take home, were just ripping the mackerel off the hooks and kicking them along the beach. I am not getting sentimental about mackerel, I eat most of the sizable sea fish I catch, with a few exceptions (normally the larger species like tope, smooth hounds, bull huss, common skate etc), but I can't understand the total disregard for fish you do not want to eat. It seems that most anglers don't realise that once you touch a mackerel (unless you are wearing wet neoprene gloves), even if you return it to the water, it will normally die within 24 hours. Anyway, rant over. :blink: It looks as though it will be worth taking the mackerel feathers down to Hythe this week.......must make some room in the freezer and check I have enough barbecue charcoal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I am not getting sentimental about mackerel, I eat most of the sizable sea fish I catch, with a few exceptions but I can't understand the total disregard for fish you do not want to eat. Anyway, rant over. :blink: I agree Cranners, why catch if you are not going to eat!!! fresh joey on the BBQ, fantastic eating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Anybody know if their hitting the west coast of Ireland Yet? Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 there hitting the east :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 there hitting the east :blink: Thanks dazza. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertie Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Agree with Cranfield, everything shot or caught, if killed and edible should be eaten! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve3562 Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 was just on a break with the family this weekend. And on so went to the end of the pier to find people fishing. so i thought ill watch them see how they get on. finally one guy gets a fish. a small dog fish uses no nets to bring it up the pier and gets it un hooks it and throws it to hims fisher mate and contions fishing so i wait and watch while the dog fish is on the floor gasping for air finally the guy picks it up unhooks it and starts smashing its head on the railings putting blood everywhere and a nasty sight for the other people watching giving sea anglers a bad name. i thought in my mind what a **** if ur going to kill a fish do it properly-right? thanks steve :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Hi, A couple of weks ago when in Pembrokeshire on the beaches the whitebait were in close and the mackerel about 40 yards out but when I was casting my feathers into the mackys (having waded a considerable distance and stood on a weaver) they were not taking and just leaping out the water when my feathers were hitting the surface. The other people on the beach were not having a any luck either. While my feathers were out I could see 2 decent sized bass swimmig around my ankles yet I had no spinner on me. :blink: FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Hi, A couple of weks ago when in Pembrokeshire on the beaches the whitebait were in close and the mackerel about 40 yards out but when I was casting my feathers into the mackys (having waded a considerable distance and stood on a weaver) they were not taking and just leaping out the water when my feathers were hitting the surface. The other people on the beach were not having a any luck either. While my feathers were out I could see 2 decent sized bass swimmig around my ankles yet I had no spinner on me. FM Thats very strange. Usually mackerel are jumping on to feathers.? Prehaps they are getting wise?? :blink: :unsure: Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Every angler should show the utmost respect for his catch. If fish are kept for the pot they should be humanely dispatched as quickly as possible. Were they good sized mackerel Cranfield? There were a lot of undersized fish here last season and this year i'm hoping we get some bigger ones this year. Mackerel are a fantastic fish to eat straight out of the sea and no where near as good after freezing IMHO. I therefore freeze very few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Apparently , they were all of a takeable size, but the fishermen had caught enough to take home and were just fishing the time away. If they were "true" fishermen, they would have taken a nice fresh mackerel fillet, put it on a 5/0, or 6/0 hook and lobbed it about 30 yards out. Big bass are usually just beyond/below the mackerel shoals and thats a sure way to catch one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Good news re the size Cranfield. We used to get 2lbers but in recent years the macks have generally been small. Agreed a slice of freshly caught mackerel is a fine bait, but I find it pretty useless after it has been frozen except for whiting fishing in the autumn. It amazes me the size of bait a large bass will take, i've seen 5lbers on whole live mackerel and foot long launce. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 I caught half a dozen in the Solent last sunday. Good size too very tasty :blink: I love fresh filleted mackeral sarnies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMS Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Rollmops rollmops and brown bread Heaven Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 We will have to wait a month or more before they arrive up here but at least they are a good size then Although I do remember coming back from a poor day wreck and reef fishing off Plymouth and the skipper was asked if we could stop and get some fresh mackerel on the feathers. He soon located a shoal and we sent the feathers down,then all hell broke loose,we were getting 6 at a time and all in the 2-3 lb range it was like being hit by a truck as most were using 20lb class gear. I had 3 drops and that was enough for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 When we fish from Clew Bay and stop by the trout pens to feather up some bait, we usually only use 3 feather rigs, as the mackerel are huge. They sit under and alongside the pens, feeding on the trout pellets that get "hosed out" for the trout. They are there almost 12 months of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted June 22, 2006 Report Share Posted June 22, 2006 When we fish from Clew Bay and stop by the trout pens to feather up some bait, we usually only use 3 feather rigs, as the mackerel are huge.They sit under and alongside the pens, feeding on the trout pellets that get "hosed out" for the trout. They are there almost 12 months of the year. I have fished clew bay and never new that. Thanks for that Cranfeild. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 First Mackerel I've heard of in Norfolk this year off Cley beach last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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