Conference wahoo::fishing

    I've never trolled for mackeral, just drift fished for them. I would
    think since they have such soft mouths that the hook would tear
    out on a troll.
    
    Anyhow, when drifting, there are two ways to have some fun. One
    is on light tackle. Use a fresh water spinning rig with 6 or 8 lb
    line and a single 1/4 oz diamond jig. Cast it out (on party boats,
    you need to cast underhand), let it drift a good long way (but not
    to the bottom), lock down the reel and start jigging, taking up
    line a little as you go. When the mack hits, it's like a freight
    train and great fun on light gear.
    
    The second method uses a mackeral tree with about a 3 oz diamond
    jig at the end. Same basic idea, except you will need a boat rod
    and about 20 lb line on either a beefy salt water spiining reel
    or a conventional star drag reel. (it's easier to toss the whole
    thing with a spinner). Cast away from the boat, let it drift down
    for a while and then start jigging and brining in the line little
    by little. If you catch a fish, let it sit there for a few seconds,
    the chances of multiple hook ups are real high with macks.
    
    I really love the fresh water rig for mackeral. You can feel every
    shake of their head and actually get to "play" the fish rather than
    just winching them in.
    
    If you have access to a smoker, mackeral are great smoked in a little
    mesquite or hickory.
    
    By the way, does anyone know where there is a party boat that goes
    for mackeral in Cape Cod Bay? I've only chased them from up north
    around Newburyport.
                                 

    The macks were thick on stellewagon last week. Any party boat fishing
    for cod will catch them whether they want to or not. The techiques
    described above are the type I use. Also, macks are not good for
    eating like cod etc (smoked they are ok if that is to your taste),
    so please if you are not going to eat them or freeze for bait later
    on do not keep them, they are not an infinite resource. I have
    seen barrels of them go to waste on party boats as people have put
    on a christmas tree and caught hundreds of them and then do not
    want to take them home.
    
    Bruce

    Thanks for the tips.
    
    The first time I ever fished for anything in salt-water was when
    a friend took me trolling for mackerel with Xmas tree rigs. We were
    on a sailboat in Salem Harbor at the time, and, as my beginner's
    luck would have it, we hit it at exactly the right time. There were
    gulls working the schools everywhere. As I recall, we were going
    fairly fast and as soon as we would pass over a school, every hook
    in the tree would have a mackerel dangling from it. We couldn't
    unhook them fast enough. My friends told me that this doesn't happen
    too often.
    
    Back then, I really didn't know much about catch and release. Now
    I release all but one or two fish, even on party boats (much to
    the astonishment of some on board)

    Macks are good bait for catfish too!
    
    If you do any catfish fishing you will find Macks to be one of the
    best baits you can find.
    
    One method is to let the Mack set out in the sun all day and get
    real ripe.  It is now ready for bait.  Cut a strip and wrap it around
    a treble hook and tie it in place with thread to keep it on the
    hook longer.  The big guys love it.
    

    
              -< greater bait for greater fish >-
    
    I like catching fish that outweigh me (an expensive yet satisfying
    hobby). Thus it useful to note that while mackerel make satisfactory
    bait for catfish, mackerel can be used for tuna and shark bait.
    When used to bait tuna or shark, however, it is of utmost importance
    that the bait be kept fresh (or alive). I'm not saying that you
    won't catch fish on frozen mackerel, but fresh bait will outfish
    frozen every time.
    
     For shark, I recommend using some of your macks for chum. This
    is generally frozen mackerel if you have both fresh and frozen.
    The macks should be either ground up before freezing, or cut
    into very small pieces once you're at a likely spot. The fresh
    macks should be used as bait (or whole frozen macks).
    
     I generally like to use mack fillets for bait since they seem to
    ensure more solid hookups than whole fish. If you prefer whole fish,
    rig them with the hook sticking out the bottom of the mack, with
    the eye of the shank coming out the mouth of the fish. Use wire
    or cable for sharks!!! Last year I landed a 200+ lb blue shark with
    no wire leader (straight 50 lb mono) but this is clearly the exception
    rather than the rule. In fact, the captain of the boat was certain
    I had hooked up with the intended quarry, a yellowfin of many pounds.
    He said it was the only shark he'd ever landed without wire in 30
    years of fishing.
    
     Well, I am going sharking July 2nd. I can't wait. I'll let you
    know how the macks do for bait.
    
     the doctah

    	One year my friends and myself caught 165 mackerel and kept everyone
    of them, we thought they'd be easy to give away. HA think again
    their easier to catch then to give away. Anyway we used diamond
    jigs and fished up at Eastmans, out of Seabrook NH. For some reason
    mackeral will swim from the bow of the boat to the stern(back), and
    if you get on a party boat get to the back and you'll catch the
    most.
    
    Jim

           
        
      It's Mackeral time again. I'm planning on taking my kids (Son 10,
    Daughter 8) out on a 1/2 day party boat next week. I've taught them to
    release any fish they don't plan to eat. So I know if we hit schools
    of Mackeral we'll be releasing a lot unless....
    Is there any way/place to sell extra mackeral? If so the kids could
    make a little money that way; making the trip even more memorable.
    We're going out on the Clipper Fleet out of Newburyport. If anyone has
    any suggestions/experience it would be appreciated.
     
                                                         Robin 

    When the fish are in, selling your excess mackerel (or any other fish)
    is pretty close to impossible.  
    
    Why dont you bring a real light rod, or even a handline, and
    crimp all your barbs down.  
    
    It's more fun and releasing them is a lot easier.

    There are no more macks in Massachusetts bay.  They've all scrammed. 
    Rumor has it the Tuna will be in in 2 weeks.  Blues are starting to
    show already.
    
    Tim
    

    I need mackeral for tuna bait, I usually get all I need myself but this
    year the macks did a quick disapearing act south of cape anne. If
    you plan to catch more than you need i would be happy to take about
    20 of them. They need to handled carefully to be useful though. They
    must be gutted ASAP after catching them (this is done by making a 2-3
    inch incision between the little fins on the belly back toward the
    vent. Then you pull out the guts and snip them off at the anus and
    throat). They must be kept chilled (but no fresh water must touch them,
    salt only). I would be happy to pick them up. These baits will be
    rigged for tuna and to be any good they cannot get soft and mushy.
    
    Bruce (dtn 227-3511)

    re .9
    
    I agree, the macks are just about gone.  I hear there are still a few
    around the Ilse of shoals.  I was out all weekend and didn't see or
    hear or any.   I was even chumming for them.
    
    I hear there are some small bluefish all the way up to southern maine.
    
    I think everything is 2-3 weeks early this year.  
    
    I hear the 1/2 day boats are still getting plenty of cod & other bottom
    fish.  I have seen many in Newburyport still cleaning fish at the dock.
    
    Gordon (wish the macks were still here - good bait)