a hard time getting mackeral around mayo

[taz]

hey all

i have been fishing for mack to stock up my bait freezer and i have been having no joy in my last 7 sessions i ahve only had 6 mack at spots that were fishing great last year berthra mullranny lacken enniscrone just wondering if anyone is having the same trouble or recommend a good spot for tonight

cheers

[doggie3131]

the only two spots that have been any good this year are bethra, and that spot at currean i told you about,old head has produced a few, but very hit and miss,i believe even the charters are having a hard time finding them at times,its been a very bad year for mackerel,just after i got a new bait freezer

[hugo]

Even out on the boat from Ballycastle (the few times the weather let us) the macks were desprit hard to find this year. So was anything else come to that. The one place round here they're being got at all is Downpatrick Head, the east side, but its a terrifying spot to fish from, 150-200 ft up and the wind at your back trying to chuck you over Very popular with some East European kamikaze types, but not for me...

[davyp]

scarce all round - i got fed up an took a 2hr trip out on the boat from killala - cost15 euro - but got a reasonbly good stock for the freezer - would have spent more on deisel drivin round and blankin .

davy

[Wozza]

Hi

Took a recent trip out of westport and we had some macks about 20 I think and that was at 3 spots around Clare Island but not a lot for 9 rods really.

thought about a trip out of mullaghmore at 25 euro for 2 hours a bit dearer than killala and the stuff coming back is just spratts really no real size and when most seem to come back with about 4-5 each from days I been there then for bait stocking I think you better off buying em from supavalue/tesco but it all about the experience i spose on a boat

wozza

[pete]

Lads a suggestion if macs are proving scarce and one thats worked for me a number of times. During your normal shore session if using a two or three hook flapper stick a decent size floatie bead on the top snood and bait it with a long, thin strip of mackerel. You should start picking up macs, good ones too, as the movement really draws them in. Works best over a sandy bottom where the bigger lone mackerel are hunting sandeels. I've seen it umpteen times now where having flailed shrimpers, jigs, lures etc. for a good hour without a touch I resorted to the floaty bead and found macs hitting the bait. Went through the same process yesterday evening, could touch a one for hour and a halfs lure action, on with the floaty bead and i'd eight large ones by the time the light went. Not a huge amount but better than a kick in the teeth and enough for the evenings fishing and planned ray session at the start of the weak, job done.

The piers in Killybegs should be worth a try in Sept and Oct aswell if your desperate for a freezer fill.

[ennagail24]

down around clare they are scare too. Although some days I was able to fill the ice box in no time, other days i drew a blank or just 1 or 2.
A theory going around is that all the fresh water being drained into the sea is keeping them further out where the water has the usual salty level.

Weather too bad to prove that to go out on my boat..... either that are like in Mayo, all the mackerel prefer the eastern european lures!!!