I have never seen snybody catch mscketel on a fly rod.
I do not think mackerel would take a fly?
Their msin foid is small fish, or if they are in a large psck, larger fish several macketel attsck and rip to pieced.
Three different ways we fish:
If I want them as bait ( 1/3 large or 1/2 small mackerel per hook, line has 75 hooks) for Halibut, then I use a braid 0.3mm, two silvery lures ( 15 grams, about 40 cm apart.
Medium Spinning reel, spinning rod.
This way if the mackerel is hunting small coalfish or herring, you see large areas looking like boiling cauldron. Coalfish or herring in the middle, being chased by mackerel outside. I need to keep the boat at least 10 meters away from the ’boiling cauldron’ and cast into it.
Second way, again as bail for bottom line, but mackerel more spread out, basically same equipment as for the big cod: short heavy rod, pirk ( Svensk pilk) 600 - 750 gram at the bottom, 4 - 6 silver spoons ( brand name Clark spoons, I buy them in Cayman or when in US) with a solidly attached single hook. For Mackerel medium C. spoons, for cod the biggest one.
Okuma Solterra level wind, 80 pound braid.
Jigging up and down.
Of course we take ‘eating fish’ from these catches too, but those fish we bleed and make sure they stay straight when Rigor Mortis sets in ( much easier to clean and fillet)
Fun fishing for food - not so productive:
Ultra light spinning rod and reel, 0.10 mono, silver spoon, 10 - 15 gr. Once we have the fish we need, I usually change the lure to another silvery spoon, but this one with barbless hooks.
Releasing those fish if not damaged.
When there is not so many mackerel around, then we use the heavy equipment, change the Svensk pilk to a 150 grams one, two rods at side of boat at the back, trolling speed about 5km per hour.
This only in extreme emergency ( desperate to eat mackerel that evening if no other good food at home) though, as I hate risking the propeller.
In 2016 I ruined a prop this way. Big $$ and p.i.t.a. to replace.
