One mackerel lure to rule them all?

Kirsty

Full Member
Oct 2, 2017
14
20
Hebrides
I am a novice at fishing but have previously caught a few trailing a line from my kayak. I found that multiple hooks lead to a tangle in my inexperienced hands so want to use just one, or two at most. I have left it a little late this year but hope that work and weather won't mean no mackerel at all. So, to that end can anyone tell me what is the most appealing mackerel lure? Thank you :)
 

slowworm

Full Member
May 8, 2008
2,179
1,109
Devon
I think mackerel aren't that fussy, they tend to mostly snap at something on the initial drop from a cast I gather. My problem is my local beaches are very shallow so I have to cast a long way to get to them. I tend to use a metal lure that matches what they are likely to feed on locally, so something resembling a sand eel or a sprat.

From a boat I would have thought a simple set of white feathers would work well, or whatever colour is used locally. You can cut down a set of 6 to a less tangly two or three. Or tie your own and use a more rigid line.

If you catch one most of my fishing books suggest cutting a slither off your catch and add to each of the feather hooks.
 
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FerlasDave

Full Member
Jun 18, 2008
1,857
622
Off the beaten track
Hi Kirsty. If I were you I’d get a set of Toby spoons, the silver or gold in particular would be great for mackerel as well as wrasse, sea bass and pollack. Not to mention trout, pike, perch etc too!
 
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stonepark

Forager
Jun 28, 2013
134
72
Carse of Gowrie
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May 9, 2024
45
46
somerset
I am a novice at fishing but have previously caught a few trailing a line from my kayak. I found that multiple hooks lead to a tangle in my inexperienced hands so want to use just one, or two at most. I have left it a little late this year but hope that work and weather won't mean no mackerel at all. So, to that end can anyone tell me what is the most appealing mackerel lure? Thank you :)
The cheap, simple, ribbon mackerel trace rigs work really well for beach casting so I'd imagine they'd would work just as well being towed by a kayak, to stop them tangling you could tie a float or an empty plastic bottle to one end with a small weight on the other, or just cut off the extra hooks.
 
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