Mackerel fishing - Page 3

m chappelow · 22 February 2013, 05:15

30 cm minimum size for Mackerel
So if you get swooped on by the fisheries inspector & you've head & tailed it or filleted it its no good trying to put it back all together again when he gets his measuring stick out : ( he won't be impressed & neither will you when your up for a large fine or your boat gets confiscated,
unless your commercial same goes for selling em to your mates down at the pub .

clydeoutboards · 22 February 2013, 06:20

if your in Scotland why not get advise from people like Mike thrussell, Paul Young etc as they are all going to be a the www.fishingmegastore.com open weekend on the 1 st 2 and 3rd?

Its a great day out and even better the Chinese cash and carry is next door!

Dave

tonto · 22 February 2013, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

30 cm minimum size for Mackerel
So if you get swooped on by the fisheries inspector & you've head & tailed it or filleted it its no good trying to put it back all together again when he gets his measuring stick out : ( he won't be impressed & neither will you when your up for a large fine or your boat gets confiscated,
unless your commercial same goes for selling em to your mates down at the pub .

So how the heck do they get those little frozen 6 inch joey mackerel I use for pike fishing then?

Shrink them

Nos4r2 · 22 February 2013, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonto

So how the heck do they get those little frozen 6 inch joey mackerel I use for pike fishing then?

Shrink them

The 30cm limit is for the North Sea. Everywhere else it's 20cm.

Pikey Dave · 22 February 2013, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonto

So how the heck do they get those little frozen 6 inch joey mackerel I use for pike fishing then?

Shrink them

Same way as they get the pathetic little frozen Canadian lobsters, or big prawns as we call 'em. Catch, freeze & import from somewhere that has different rules. Personally I think even the minimum sizes are too small, we've always been picky on what we keep & throw back. When I was diving, I was very selective on what I brought out or left especially with the shellfish. I always went for the biggest, kept the missus happy

Nos4r2 · 22 February 2013, 10:14

There's a rumour that there's point in throwing macky back anyway as handling them kills them within 24 hours.

kerny · 22 February 2013, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

There's a rumour that there's point in throwing macky back anyway as handling them kills them within 24 hours.

Can't see that being true

telcowilliam · 22 February 2013, 10:31

I've also heard that, when you touch the mackeral you 'burn' them. I catch them and just hold the hook upside down and shake them back into the sea. Once I've got enough for the BBQ of course ;-)

whisper · 22 February 2013, 10:36

We catch Mackerel to eat and for bait for bigger fish.

I hear that they should only be caught on a hand line, does this mean one of those lines like a crab line or does it mean a fishing rod?

Sorry if this has already been asked

steco1958 · 22 February 2013, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

We catch Mackerel to eat and for bait for bigger fish.

I hear that they should only be caught on a hand line, does this mean one of those lines like a crab line or does it mean a fishing rod?

Sorry if this has already been asked

Either, Line caught means exactly that

willk · 22 February 2013, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

There's a rumour that there's point in throwing macky back anyway as handling them kills them within 24 hours.

Handling them strips the protective slime from their bodies. I've seen live examples in an aquarium where you could see the handprints developing on the mackerel. It provides an opportunity for infections to get a start.

If you wet your hand first and grip the fish as lightly as possible it is said to cause less damage - dunno how true this is. It makes some sense though, as a dry hand is very "grippy" and abrasive.

whisper · 22 February 2013, 11:45

I've also heard that they die after being caught, therefore all mackerel (the correct size) should be used as bait or for a Mackerel Bap

Building The Hot Mackerel Bap - YouTube

AJ. · 22 February 2013, 15:01

I've been to that chippy in Weymouth end of last summer they heavily advertise the Mackeral baps and sustainable fishing. Very good

whisper · 22 February 2013, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ.

I've been to that chippy in Weymouth end of last summer they heavily advertise the Mackeral baps and sustainable fishing. Very good

Did you have one? where abouts is it? I'm off the sunny Weymouth tomorrow

AJ. · 22 February 2013, 15:21

Just to the left when facing the sea of the old Town bridge that opens to let the bigger boats in

tonto · 22 February 2013, 16:08

use a pair of the thin nitrile/rubber gloves (similar to what mechanics etc use)
Wet your hands, and you will not damage the slime.

It is the same for many of the freshwater fish, and using wet hands reduces the damage.

Some of the large carp in our lakes are caught a few times a year, and some of them are over 60 years old, so not all fish suffer, it is a matter of handling with a bit of care.

Also if you are worried about damage to the fish, squeeze flat the barb on the hook to make it barbless, and as long as you keep the pressure on the fish, it will not come off normally. You may loose maybe 5% that you might otherwise land, but the unhooking is then a doddle.

As for putting the tiddlers back, I have seen on TV how they catch mackerel, and they scoop up hundereds of tonnes in a go, and suck them up by pump. You cant tell me they put the little unes back alive surely, after they have been through all that????