I can't catch a mackerel. HELP

Not sure if there is a better method, but how I've done it with a sabiki from the south mission bay jetty is attach a 1oz sinker, toss out as far as I can. Rapidly jig and retrieve as soon as it hits the water.

 

Small hook, piece of bait like a Mack chunk, shrimp or squid. Small split shot cast up current let it drift back to the baitfish. If it’s a crazy boil just toss in the middle if can reach from shore with the small weight.

 

Use a glowstick with a 4-5ft leader and a size 1 hook tipped with any kind of bait (don't use too much or it'll sink). Cast out and wait while taking up slack. This is the main method at ob pier when people are shoulder to shoulder. I don't recommend casting a sabiki from shore.

 

My approach to catching mackerel is simple.. chum. If you throw a pinch of chum every minute or so, you can get quite a herd of baitfish in front of you in a hurry.. old bread, rice from the bottom of the rice cooker, small hot dog pieces, trimmings from your past fish kills, all will work fine. Smelt chunks are a great bait too if you have a bunch of smelt in front of you, take advantage.

 

99 Ranch

 

small jighead. BH grub. On about a foot of leader. dropshot weight on a seperate foot of leader. Throw, Retrieve slow wait for it to plow the hook. bit of shrimp on the hook. I've never had one hit my line otherwise. I've fished close to thousands of them.

 

Since you shore fish, to add to what Coach suggested. Throw you chum up current so it has time to drift in front of you.

 

If no one is too close to you use freshwater gear and light line and let them run and pull drag. It's fun for me, nice little fight.

 

Throw a small Kroc or a cast master. You also have to say in your head... Please don’t be another mac..

 

I’ve had good luck with a white or chartreuse 1 1/2” or 2” curl tail grub rigged on a 1/16oz jig. If throwing it out and reeling it in doesn’t work try using a bobber 3-4’ from the jigs. Cast out let the ripple on the water work the bait. I’ve caught all kinds of fish using this method.

 

The Split decision combo at Wal Mart is awesome for that! got the combo for my youngin' on those daddy-daughter dates. Macks feel like 5 pounders on it lol

 

Mackerel LOVE crappie jigs. i usually throw a zoom fluke tail on one. cast out let it drift past them, light twitches.

 

4" keitech fat impact in bluegill seems to produce them like no tomorrow for me.

Or a gulp sandworm on a 1/8th oz jighead. Keep it up in the date column and something will hit it, sometimes a mack.

 

Just go to Shelter Island pier in the evening and you will catch tons of them. Bring glowstick and sabiki

 

Man, I wish I could get that to work for me... Every time I fish there I put a topwater on hoping for something to take... lol

 

The best tip I ever got about catching macs was to put bait on the sabiki hooks. It made all the difference in the world. And oh yes.......chum chum chum...