ATTACK OF THE MACK

“Lures are trolled faster than baits, with speeds determined by the lure. Five knots is a good starting point for the popular hardbody minnows, but other lures are effective at faster speeds.”

Mackerel are a key recreational target species for angler’s lucky enough to target them, with the vast majority of fish being landed by angler’s fishing inshore coastal waters from boats.

These tropical speedsters inhabit the warmer waters of Australia, ranging north ward of Cape Leeuwin in WA, across the tropics and down along the NSW coast as warm tropical currents flow south. Recreational anglers travel long distances and plan holidays in order to tangle with these fish. Not only do their savage strikes and blistering runs make for exciting fishing, these bulky fish taste great as well; and it only takes a couple to fill the freezer! If I was to hazard a guess, I’d think that mackerel contribute several million dollars to state economies from the rec. sector each season, with boats, fuel, accommodation and tackle, etc.

Here on the North Coast of NSW, the arrival of mackerel is much anticipated and nothing seems to bring seasonal anglers out of hibernation more than tales of mackerel being landed. Boat ramps fill up