Mackerel

micko123

Anyone been fishing for mackerel yet? Is so any luck? Are there any spots in oranmore or nearby that are any good?

Thanks.

peterfoyle

Its too early August or September before they hit shores

Seaneh

Was swimming in the bay the other day (blackrock) and there is a **** ton of sprat in.
The Maks should be in soon for a feed I reckon.

Doc Ruby

The ultimate recession food! I found it was a very quiet year last year though, hope they haven't started to wise up to us.

micko123

The reason I ask is that over on the angling forum guys have been catching around howth and Sligo so just wondered if they had ventured to G bay yet.

fishy fishy

Doc Ruby wrote: »

The ultimate recession food! I found it was a very quiet year last year though, hope they haven't started to wise up to us.

nah, mackeral was always around and was always eaten, because it is extremely good for you, and extremly tasty. Not a recession food at all, (except maybe for those who decided to eat foie gra every week whether they liked it or not) :p

sanbrafyffe

where are you living

peterfoyle wrote: »

Its too early August or September before they hit shores

conaire1

I usually catch them in Salthill a few days before Race Week each year.

Rob A. Bank

Atlantic Mackerel Migration Routes (Roman Numerals = month)

They spawn in the Bay of Biscay and off the south west coast of Ireland and migrate towards the North Sea for summer feeding.

Adult mackerel spend winter in deeper water offshore but as the water warms in spring and summer they move inshore and form huge schools, once the water temperature reaches 11-14 C.

So the temperature of the bay appears to be the critical factor in when to expect them off Salthill.

joeKel73

Rob A. Bank wrote: »

<snip>
once the water temperature reaches 11-14 C.

So the temperature of the bay appears to be the critical factor in when to expect them off Salthill.

Just under 10°C yet, give it until July I'd say.

stevecrow74

There are plenty of mackerel in the bay, was out on a boat competition a couple of weeks back and a good load were caught, we just need a week of warmer settled weather to bring them in closer

Discodog

Rob A. Bank wrote: »

So the temperature of the bay appears to be the critical factor in when to expect them off Salthill.

Any chance of a link to the Map & other info ?

They may be around now on their way up the coast but there is an armada of Icelandic factory boats waiting for them further North. So there might not be so many at the end of the summer.

Rob A. Bank

Discodog wrote: »

Any chance of a link to the Map & other info ?

They may be around now on their way up the coast but there is an armada of Icelandic factory boats waiting for them further North. So there might not be so many at the end of the summer.

I found the map through a Google search for Mackerel Migration.

An interesting article from the Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/timeseye/offshore/p7a.htm

.

Discodog

Rob A. Bank wrote: »

I found the map through a Google search for Mackerel Migration.

An interesting article from the Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/timeseye/offshore/p7a.htm

.

I just found it the same way

I see that the row over the Faroe Islands is still going on. It looks like a lot of those fish won't make the return trip.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/25/mackerel-fishing-curbs-imposed

Rob A. Bank

I agree Discodog. It certainly looks as if our mackerel will go the same way as their North sea cousins... i.e. fished to near extinction... the greed and stupidity of the fishing nations is unbelievable.

The evidence is clear from what has already happened in the North Sea... herring, cod, place and mackerel practically wiped out. Yet they don't learn... *sigh*

premium power

Fishing in Dublin bay over the last five year has been terrible. I spent a full day fishing around rockibile lighthouse and lambay island nothing but a waste of time and money, Near doing that again, there is only one solution
moving west