General description spanish mackerel dont get very big. Jul 8, 2014 this pin was discovered by karla mericle rowe. How to set up a fishing pole for fly and bubble fishing. Great product and cheaper than i can buy at the bait shops along the nc coast. Spanish mackerel fishing tricks and how to cook them.
Cooler water temps will bring spanish mackerel to gulf state park pier. See more ideas about fishing rigs, fishing tips and fishing knots. How to catch ladyfish the angler within best ways to catch. I also caught some spanish mackerel and made up a video of how to rig that up with a jhook and a mono leader. Young king mackerel have similar, but slightly smaller spots. Theyre also catching bluefish up to 3 pounds, slot reds up to 3 pounds, speckled trout, sheepshead on sand fleas, larger flounder, whiting and ground mullet, as well as a few pompano and a 5pound permit.
Like the king they prefer warm water and are often present off the coast of the carolinas during the summer months. Something i learned watching others throw this set up when cutting up a straw about 3 inches to make the set up, cut one end of the straw at a 45 degree angle, have that end point toward the rod tip. Im going fishing in florida in a month pier and surf. Each hook is dressed with surgical tubing that is brightly colored to attract game fish. Such an occurrence is a bummer with a fish of any size, but when it costs you a tournamentwinner or trophy, the. He likes to fish two king mackerel baits deep on downriggers, and at least two more on the surface in the prop wash. Their choice in bait fish are frozen cigar minnows, and mullet in addition to live bait caught by you right here at the pier. Owner sabiki mackerel skin rig dicks sporting goods. I use a medium light spinning outfit with a 7 rod with 10lb test mono or 20lb test braid. If you troll or drift live baits for wahoo, bluefish, mackerel and other razormawed game fish, youve no doubt had a fish make off with the lower half of your offering, missing the hook entirely.
It will deliver, and i will personally guarantee that. Fly fishing tips fishing stuff rigs bubbles projects to try ocean outdoors exterior sea. The bubble rig is excellent lure for catching spanish mackerel. I got the displaced scrapfin and mechanized mackerel from the same bubble in future mechagon using the personal time displacer. Motor up to the bait and cast around the edges of the pods. A popular local way to do this is to put a gotcha or clark spoon behind a bubble rig. Jun 24, 2010 even so, fished for with light gear, lure or float, a mackerel can put up a lively scrap, although its reputation is marred by the fact that it is also a sucker for multilure rigs worked with minimal skill. Straw rigs for spanish mackerel ive been trying to go through some of my fishing tackle and get it organized in preparation for spring and summer fishing.
The blue water candy 73356 spanish daisy rig comes in white. Most people either use a gotcha lure, a short piece of colored tubing, or a short piece of a mcdonalds plastic straw. Adding floats to various catfish rigs can make a big difference in your success and the float rig is no exception. Sep 30, 2019 a mackerel rigged with a hook in its belly is the easiest of the mackerel rigs to master, and it also results in bait that swims with incredible consistency. He may even show you my special chugger rig we use. We learn about a simple artificial reaction lure for several species of saltwater fish. It happened in a second flat, but i saw the big king mackerel bite the hapless prey in half, and my line went slack. Dec 19, 2016 i also caught some spanish mackerel and made up a video of how to rig that up with a jhook and a mono leader. It is used primarily in this area for spanish mackerel and. How to catch kingfish off texas sport fishing magazine. Fishing for mackerel three great methods sea angler. It is used primarily in this area for spanish mackerel and bluefish, with some king mackerel being caught on it too. Apr 03, 2019 fast, sleek and scrappy, spanish mackerel provide countless hours of lighttackle fun. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands.
I prefer the silverside ones, again, trying to match the local bait. Spanish mackerel are fast, seriously fast and will smash any high speed jig, they just cant help themselves. Blue water candy saltwater fishing lures are made in the usa with a focus on quality and effectiveness. The best rigs for catfishing catfish rigs for fishing for blues, channels and flathead catfish. The venerable clark spoon and similar lures flutter and skip just like small bait. Fishing rigs bass fishing tips gone fishing trout fishing kayak fishing saltwater fishing fishing knots fishing stuff fishing humor special plastic worm rig is a basscatching bit of magic, and not so wacky after all. Take a very fast, very aggressive and very hardpulling game fish. Here is a detailed tutorial where i walk you through step by step, how to make a cork rig for spanish mackerel. At the end of each branch is a hook dressed with a brightly colored or reflective material. Skitterwalks or mirrolure top dogs are normally what i use. Whats yall favorite rigs bait lures for spanish mackerel trying to get me a mess this weekend. Since they both pretty much eat the same things, they will hit the same offerings.
This can be another great way of working an area for spanish mackerel, you know theyre there, but they dont want to play. Noticed from forum comments that others have found the same thing. This is a very popular rig along the florida panhandle. Hearty blue runners are also great for slow trolling live bait for kingfish. Spanish mackerel rigs, rigging mackerel for trolling marlin. Jul 16, 2017 my friend matt was fishing with a bubble rig and out of nowhere wham. How to rig a spanish mackerel as a trolled bait bluewater. Apr 04, 20 bubble rig or spoons for numbers but i prefer to only catch them on topwater when theyre chasing bait pods. Ill probably be using 30 pound line and im afraid i wont be able to cast far with a. These rigs work great for bonito, spanish mackerel, and more.
The prince of mackerel can be the king of nearshore water along the coast during the spring months. Description of what a fishing bubble rig is, how they are used, how they are made. Bubble rig straw rig bubbles, fly fishing tips, ocean fishing. In addition to such spots, cero mackerel have one or more yellow stripes along the centerline. Mackerel also enjoy bubble rigs and the occasional spoon. Bubbles free delivery possible on eligible purchases. In addition, there is a snap connection that allows you to attach a spoon lure to the clarkspoon mackerel tree rig, increasing its effectiveness. He may miss more fish than other anglers who use the multiplehook. Oftentimes that means a swarm of game fish are chasing bait, and that swarm is often made up of ladyfish. But what are the best spanish mackerel lures and baits, and what rigs. Apr 04, 2011 another straw rig for spanish mackerel a few months back i wrote an article about the straw rigs we use to catch bait size spanish mackerel from the piers here on the east coast. Cooler water temps will bring spanish mackerel to gulf.
Oddly enough, it continues to get a ton of traffic from search engines so i guess there are a lot of people out there that want to know more about the crazy things us. July 4 saw a good run of king mackerel at the pier. Mackerel trolling rig, bally hood trolling rigs, plug trolling rigs plus bass fishing tips. Having said that, thousands of wouldbe anglers are introduced to the sport because of the mackerels availability and ease of capture. The length of the city and county piers is approximately 1500 feet. Lets not kid ourselves though its much more fun to reel in that line if theres a fish waiting at the other end. It features four 30 mustad forged hooks for reliable hook ups. Hence the old saying, the bigger the weight, the dumber the mate.
Kingfish rigs, king mackerel bait and trolling rigs salt. Bubble stopper always inserts with a tug on the rod. Spanish mackerel fishing tips, and how to catch spanish mackerel. Structure plays an important role in king mackerel fishing, and the thousands of oil rigs in the gulf make a natural place for kings to hold.
A king mackerel smoked it and had a nice little run. One particularly effective method for catching mackerel is with a rig often referred to as a mackerel tree. May have hard time finding peaches for awhile he should be down under now. Triton ss neoprene bubble rig on 40lb flourocarbon with a mustad 20 2x strong treble hook. Rig with leader and a small egg sinker above the swivel to run just below the surface. Discusses lures, line, leaders, areas to fish, characteristics and identification of the spanish mackerel, its habitat and season in the destin area and gulf.
Pacific mackerel are not highly prized as a food fish, so he seldom keeps more than he can use as bait for future fishing trips, and the rest are released back into the ocean. These are my favorite lures for spanish mackerel fishing, here are the names of them all. It could also be be a school of spanish mackerel instead of ladyfish, but thats ok, they would be an even better catch. While i was digging through my saltwater box, i ran across the box i keep for straw rigs and thought it would make a great warm water howto on this cold winter day.
Although artificial flies are effective lures for bass and panfish as well as trout, fishing with them can seem too complicated for the average fisherman to attempt. I had always considered trolling to be the only serious method for catching spanish mackerel, until one afternoon at dusk, lounging at the beach with the kids, i noticed a single, silvery fish bolt out of the water like a porpoise, just on the far side of the. Any mate worth having on board can make a mackerel swim like crazy without using any lead weight. Spanish mackerel rigs, rigging mackerel for trolling. The hooks are dressed with mackerel fish skin and each branch line features green glow bead slides, making this rig highly attractive. Wolf herring are awesome bait and rarely let you down if a spanish mackerel is around, consistently catching larger fish as well. All the catfish rigs you need to know for all the most effective catfishing techniques. Fast, sleek and scrappy, spanish mackerel provide countless hours of lighttackle fun. You can catch spanish mackerel, lady fish, blue fish, and others.
But what are the best spanish mackerel lures and baits, and what rigs work best. Use live shrimp, sardines, or pilchard and a small 18oz. The plastic bubble itself consists of two parts, the oval shaped bubble with a hole in the top and bottom, and a. Try for the mechanized mackerel at same time youre looking for a green roughy. As the water temperatures start warming in early april. Perfect for kids, mackerel can be easily caught by trolling. These are not as tough to rig as mullet, but for sure more of a chore than ballyhoo. Spanish mackerel have prominent yellow spots on the flanks at all sizes.
To isolate key factors to catching these wily, sharp. Ill probably be using 30 pound line and im afraid i wont be able to cast far with a gotcha plug to cast further. The wax floss helps the mackerel rig hold together after multiple slashes from a swordfish bill, and the exposed jhook helps improve the hookup ratio when a sword eats the bait. Comment by dewald for those that are saving these fish for last. How to rig a mackerel bait for swordfish fishtrack. You can fish for mackerel with many different kinds of bait, however artificial lures are best by far. Anglers can either make a bubble rig themselves or buy them readymade. Another popular lure for trolling are the multilure mackerel rigs. While i was digging through my saltwater box, i ran across the box i keep for straw rigs and thought it would make a great warm water. A mackerel tree is simply a length of heavy monofilament line off of which shorter lengths of line branch. A mackerel rigged with a hook in its belly is the easiest of the mackerel rigs to master, and it also results in bait that swims with incredible consistency. Pier anglers have caught plenty of spanish mackerel during september using bubble rigs, and the sizes are getting bigger. The bubble rig is a simple and fun way to catch fish also.
A local guide on techniques and rigs for catching spanish mackerel in the destin, florida area. They can be caught from the beach, pier, or kayak and are fun no matter how you catch them. How to make a super effective float rig for spanish mackerel. The only thing i cant guarantee you is a trophy fish sure wish i could do that though. Over the years weve pretty much figured out what works and what doesnt, and were sharing these tips with you.
At times, spanish and ladyfish will even be mixed in together. Sep 07, 2019 one great way to find ladyfish along gulf coast beaches is to watch for birds working the surface. Gulf shores alabama lures and rigs for pier or surf. When prepared and rigged properly, boston mackerel are durable baits that draw in big fish. Bubble rigs and jigs have caught spanish mackerel weighing 112 to 212 pounds.
Another straw rig for spanish mackerel a few months back i wrote an article about the straw rigs we use to catch bait size spanish mackerel from the piers here on the east coast. With both spanish and blues, the rigs hold up well, but with all the teeth you will get cut off, so buy extra. Spoons, bubble rigs and gotcha lures are particularly great choices. Get a clear plastic casting bubble about 2 inches long available in most tackle shops, and slip it on the end of your line, tie on a swivel, then attach about a 6 foot leader and tie the feather at the end.
How to catch spanish mackerel from shore the angler. If you must use bait, grass shrimp is the best but seaworms, squid strips, and bits of clam will also work. You can make your own, or buy premade rigs from local tackle shops near the beach. These fish can be caught anywhere at any time of the day, save these lot for last as youll probably get most if not all of them hunting the. Sea striker mr43gs mackerel rig is excellent for spanish mackerel, yellow tails, and bluefish. Come see the silver kings dance at the gulf state park pier. Cut a length of wire about 18 inches off the spool. Spanish mackerel order perciformes scomberomorus maculatus family scombridae. How to catch mackerel using a float, spinning or feathering. Jul 16, 2019 but figuring out how to catch king mackerel can be tricky.
Spanish mackerel is truly one of the greatest pelagics in the ocean, with awesome streamlining and screaming runs, impressive razorsharp teeth, and also they are great to eat with some fantastic mackeral recipes available its one unreel fish with serious attitude. Trolling speeds should be adjusted to sea conditions but 1,000 to 1,500 rpm or between 2 and 4 knots is a good. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. How to catch ladyfish the angler within best ways to. Simple setup instructions included have a question. Make offer skirted king mackerel rigs king mackerel rigs 20 available tell us what you think opens in new window or tab. Big schools of giant redfish came within casting distance of the pier two or three times a day last week and should continue throughout the rest of the summer. The bubble rig leaves a trail of bubbles behind it, mimicing a wounded bait fish.
Most recipes i have found are for atlantic species of mackerel. Mackerel are one of the most effective baits for swordfish, especially for anglers drifting at night. Put behind a trolling sinker or bubble rig, they are very effective. Mackerel tree rig great for other game fish that feed on schooling bait. How to catch spanish mackerel make your own mackerel rig. Our custom fishing products are made in the us and triple checked for quality. The plastic straw also helps protect the leader from the razorsharp teeth of the mackerel. Spanish mackerels are a smaller cousin of the king mackerel. An array of great spanish mackerel lures johnson sprite, gotcha plug, kastmaster spoon, spro bucktail jig, bubble rig straw rig, chrome. Spanish mackerel are torpedo shaped, high speed, predatory fish that are great sport to catch on light tackle. During the spring when the mackerel begin to run, we will catch a supply of baits on sabiki rigs and prep a number of them for the upcoming season.
Anglers can either make a bubble rig themselves or. What is the best bonita rig for fishing the oceanside pier. Jul 28, 2019 using bubble rigs straw rigs for spanish mackerel another very common, and effective method for targeting spanish, particularly from piers and jetties, is the bubble rig. Get the best deals on mackerel fishing jigs when you shop the largest online selection at.
Offshore angler live bait mackerel rig bass pro shops. I like to use the 4x strong treble hooks when fishing, as these generally dont break even with the largest king mackerels. State park pier anglers who love to fish the gulf state park pier during the fall are in for a treat as the spanish mackerel and king mackerel start their migrations back to the east. Also called a strawrig as some are made from a mcdonalds straw. After painting myself green at mechanocat station paint puddle 63, 42, got two mackerel before finding a roughy just south of there. Another very common, and effective method for targeting spanish, particularly from piers and jetties, is the bubble rig. How to catch spanish mackerel from shore the angler within. Pier fishing can be enjoyable and relaxing whether or not you catch a fish. Theres a heap of different ways to make your own mackerel rig using a herring, but check out our swimming wolf herring rig below, it just doesnt get any easier with excellent hook up rates. While opinions on many topics varied as widely as chili recipes at a county fair, we were able to distill these 12 steps to glory.