MACKEREL MANIA: SPRING AND FALL ACTION

One of the most sought after sport fish in Massachusetts is the Atlantic Mackerel. The numbers of fishermen that fish for mackerel and the numbers that they catch indicate that the mackerel is an important part of the local sport fishery. On average, anywhere between 15 and 25 % of the mackerel caught in Massachusetts waters are caught by recreational fishermen.

The months of May and June are generally the peak spring period for mackerel in and around Mass Bay. The first mackerel of the season can be spotted as early as April depending on weather and water conditions. Once the fishing fraternity is notified about the return of mackerel, they are quick to respond as scores of fishermen head to the water armed with light rods, buckets, a good supply of mackerel trees and small shiny mackerel jigs.

During the summer mackerel leave local waters and spent the warm months of summer in the cooler northern waters of Maine and Canada. Once local waters start to cool, the mackerel returns kicking off mackerel mania once again. Their return stay lasts from the end of September through October and if conditions permit, later. Once again fishermen are driven into a frenzy with all the big mackerel that are around in the fall.

Mackerel are not only a great sport fish but an important component of the food chain. Larger fish such as striped bass, bluefish and sharks rely heavily on their numbers for adequate forage. Fishermen are quite likely to "stock up" on mackerel when they are plentiful, freeze them and utilize them later in t he season when stripers and bluefish arrive.

As table fare, mackerel are best when they are eaten as soon as they are caught. Their flesh is oily and tends to deteriorate when frozen for any length of time. To insure, at least, acceptable quality, mackerel should be frozen no longer than three months.

Mackerel spend their winters in the southern, offshore and migrate into the northern inshore waters during the warmer months. Mackerel, a schooling fish, can be found at all levels of the water column. Few fishermen realize that mackerel can be found as deep as six hundred feet and on the surface as well.

Schools of mackerel, sometimes made up of over a thousand individual fish, can be seen roaming the open water or invading local harbors. Schools of mackerel have been known to beach themselves when chased and corralled by savage bluefish. Usually, mackerel of the same size will make up a school.

Mackerel are sought after by both shore and boat fishermen. Shore anglers look for productive piers to work jigs and trees. Often times they will fill buckets with impressive numbers of these incredible speedsters. Pier fishermen generally agree that first light is the best time to fish for mackerel.

The tackle required for mackerel fishing is quite simple. A light rod and reel combo, spooled with eight pound test, a supply of mackerel jigs and a few different mackerel trees. The original multi colored trees work well and are a standard. There are now Silver mylar trees that have been extremely effective and the third tree that has become very popular among local fishermen is the feathered tree. This tree took a long time to catch on but when the mackerel are finicky, the feathers seem to turn them on. Some times two different sizes of hooks are to your advantage. Tinker’s are more readily to go after the smaller trees while, jacks go after the larger tree. Mackerel trees are also referred to as Christmas tree rigs.

Small jigs are also very popular among mackerel fishermen and attract good numbers of mackerel. Jigs can be combined with mackerel trees or they can be rigged in tandem. Most fishermen prefer jig weights from 1/3 to ½ ounce when rigging the singly or in tandem. For the most part, jigs weighing an ounce or two are used at the bottom of a mackerel tree rig.

As mentioned earlier, shore fishermen seem to prefer fishing from local piers. Many of the popular piers are public or located within marinas. Fishing is not limited to piers as there are good numbers of fishermen that cast jigs from beaches, points and jetties.

Within the city of Boston, there is one very popular pier. It is the Castle Island Pier. During a mackerel invasion the Castle Island Pier can be "shoulder to shoulder" with "pumped up" anglers. The Castle Island Pier is open 24 hours a day and there is adequate parking in the area. There are no fees to be paid and the fishing can be terrific.

Numerous other piers are located in the area and are quite popular. The public pier located in Lynn by the General Edwards Bridge is one such pier. A short walk from the parking area is required to get to the pier. Jutting out into the channel, the fishing is usually quite productive.

Other popular fishing locations for mackerel include the Salem Willows Pier, the Beverly Fishing Pier, the pier behind the Manchester Police Station and the Gloucester Breakwater.

Boat fishermen are blessed as they can travel to where the mackerel have been active. Boat fishermen generally make use of mackerel trees, sometimes rigging them two or three at a time. Catches numbering well into the hundreds are not uncommon for boat anglers. Often times anglers will haul in numerous fish at a time.

The first mackerel of the season will arrive at Stellwagen Bank. These first of the season arrivals will generally stay on the bank for some time. Fishermen can score big during this period by drift fishing and making use of chum to hold the schools close to the boat. When using chum use a frozen block of chum and put it into a me sh bag or bucket with holes and tie it off on one of the cleats at the head of the current. This technique allows you to control the flow of chum and keep it close to the boat.

Boat fishermen can generally score nicely during the spring and fall runs at the following locations: the East end of the Cape Cod Canal; Stellwagen Ledge; Minot’s Ledge just outside Cohasset; Thieves Ledge off Point Allerton; Graves Ledge, Boston; the Boston Dumping Grounds; and many locations within Boston and Salem Harbors.

When the mackerel arrive in full force, this is the time to break in a new fishermen. Don’t forget that these powerhouses will return in the fall and provide exceptional action when other sought after species are starting to migrate south.

This is the perfect time to introduce youngsters to the fast action of mackerel fishing. They will remember the experience and hopefully begin a successful and fun-filled fishing career..