How to Catch Spanish Mackerel with Straws! Be careful when you work the lures though, the hooks on these lures are very sharp. There are "drill and fill" solutions for non-caving soils (silts and clays) and there are "displacement . Making your own Sabiki Rig is no great mystery. Most of the Mackerel will end up being caught in the chum line, making it simple for the beginner angler. Just for the record actually three records, this early run often holds large kings. 3. Measure out about 10" to 11" of line and form a small loop. This terminates in a short (2-4 feet) monofilament or fluorocarbon leader, with the lure on the end. An age-old method for catching Spanish mackerel from boats is to troll No. These systems are ideal for nearly all soil types and applications. (Bogue Inlet Pier - Emerald Isle, NC) 12,695 views May 18, 2019 130 Dislike Share Save Carolina Shore Fishing 6.36K subscribers Here's how to catch. He is from Southport-Oak Island, N.C. and continues to live there in semi-retirement. Once your chum bag is in the water, expect to wait 10 to 15 minutes for the Mackerel to show up. Matagorda, Texas has approximately 58 miles of beach. I do at least 12". Also learned awhile ago the straws (coffee straws) whistle through the water while jigging which attracks not only Smacks but other fish. That is a big no-no. Mark "Hollywood" Johnson of FloridaKeysFunFishing.com is back to teach us the ultimate Spanish mackerel rig that catches macks from Texas to the Carolinas and greatly decreases your chance of getting broken off. Another technique popular for catching Spanish uses mackerel tree, Christmas tree or straw rigs. The fog usually coincides with the warmer water pushing in. A Spanish mackerel rigged on a circle hook makes a terrific pitch bait when teasing up big blues. Even if a pier doesnt designate this, dont try to look so close as to be in the way! I just find that 7 works best for me. They probably hold the Top 5 fish targeted on the pier. Fishermen who are targeting Spanish mackerel from piers and often from jetties generally use only two or three methods: casting, live baiting or jigging. Some "store bought" rigs will have the knot all the way to the eye of the hook. The Sabiki Rig is basically a series of hooks tied to a main line. Spanish Mackerel are a fast-moving species of mackerel that are normally caught from March to November. Boat fishermen had noted they were catching kings closer in and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before a pier king angler scored. Keith. This technique involves throwing out the anchor at 10' to 30' of water and chumming up these suckers. A swivel (Recommended but not required) A swivel instead of just a loop helps prevent the line from breaking there. I find it best to keep the first hook close to the end of the noodle and then push each additional hook next to the first one and so on. Mustad sells some spanish rigs with the clear tubing over the mylar. If you want to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please submit the form below. From a Pier The most economical way of getting to the 'kings' and many other near-offshore species such as tunas little tuny and blackfin), tarpon, barracuda, cobia, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and Jack Crevelle is by finding a long pier. Sized approximately .5 to .75 lbs each. Total: $21.49. Freshwater heavier bass tackle can work, but a lot of bait casters do not have the line capacity and other reels dont handle the fast runs well either. So just use a double overhand knot to tie off the hook about 1-1/2" from the eye. Spanish mackerel have already moved up the N.C. Coast to the Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras areas and are pleasing fishermen there too. Is that ok or do I need to at least go to a 2/0? These rigs are longer and more difficult to cast, but can be cast and multiple strikes is not uncommon. Share this: Details. The choice is yours. . Press the hook and barb end of the fishing hook into the pool noodle. Repeat with all of your hooks spacing 6-8" apart. Until about a decade ago, Long Beach Pier was the third pier on Oak Island. Another highly popular species on the pier. Copyright 2021 PierFisher.com, All rights reserved. Kure Beach Pier reopened on May 2 and Chris Ammons landed their first king, a 24 pounder, on May 5. Take care not to slam a hook into your hand while tightening. A medium to heavy spinning reel/rod will work too, but I have personally killed some spinning reels on Spanish mackerel when I first started fishing the pier. Trolley-Rigging. They are known for their aggressive nature as well as having incredibly fast runs. They are a warm-water species that usually coincides with the arrival of spring and baitfish around the pier. I usually put one or two above my gotcha or spoon (looks like a little fish chasing small fish). I use a special loop knot to tie off the hook at this point but it is difficult to explain. I'be been using a 1/0 hook on my straw rigs. With either way of lure fishing be mindful of other people who might be freelining baits for either kings or Spanish. Chance are good that you will lose the rig by a shark, a ray or by the line fraying as your catching those toothy fish long before the line breaks at the pinch point. If you ever see a tight ball of glass minnows or other bait put a gotcha or straw rig in the middle and jig up and down. JavaScript is disabled. You can either chug the bubble, like a popper, or just reel in with some pauses or pops. One rig doesn't last me very long anyway. They are known for their aggressive nature as well as having incredibly fast runs. Using smaller live herring, squid, or cigar minnows freelined out will produce larger 4 Lb+ Spanish. They still get chewed some but will get bit off before they stop biting it from lack of flashiness. Sabiki Rig (Also know as a Spanish Mackerel Rig), 40lb test clear monofilament line. The Ultimate Spanish Mackerel Rig (Catches Mackerel Anywhere) 95,255 views Apr 17, 2019 983 Dislike Share Salt Strong 252K subscribers Have you ever been cut off by a Spanish mackerel?. Take a 3 oz. Many Sabiki rigs are available for purchase at sporting good stores but most are very light weight with maybe a 6# test line and very small hooks. You can order them. Multiple hooks are there for a reason. You can also fish for larger ax handle Spanish mackerel using live or dead bait. Fishing Writer for AllOutdoor.com An avid angler since I was little, based out of the South East United States. I tie 7 hooks on my Sabiki Rig. If the Macs aren't on the bite for straws, I stick with a heavy casting plug called a "Gotcha." Scissors or a nail clipper to cut the monofilament. It is a plastic bubble that you filled with water or BBs, that you have on your main line above a swivel and leader. And dont use under 8lb mono! The Sabiki (Spanish) Rig. Tie a swivel to the end of the monofilament line. They eat mainly squid and small baitfish, pretty much if its shiny and moves quickly they will try to eat it. Both. Typically, he'll use a leader of at least 30 feet tied to a barrel swivel. Caught my first two spanish doing that. Tie on your 3oz bank sinker to the end of the line in any manner you wish. They are running now! They flash and the spanish think there them little minners. Capt. These large Spanish are often bycatch when targeting king mackerel. If the Spanish are thick, they can be cast short and jigged, often producing multiple strikes. Simple Rig to Catch Spanish Mackerel Off ANY Fishing Pier - YouTube 0:00 / 10:35 SKYWAY FISHING PIER STATE PARK Simple Rig to Catch Spanish Mackerel Off ANY Fishing Pier 53,376. I'm hoping some of the old timers will chime in on this one. King and Spanish mackerel have arrived along the southern N.C. Coast and pier and boat anglers are catching them well. The money-winning mackerel bit a live mullet on a pin rig off the end of the pier a few hours after the three-day competition started. Spanish max out around 36 long and 12 Lb for a record-sized Spanish. Gather the following items: 1. IMPORTANT: Not available for shipping via FedEx. As you place the hooks, wrap the line around the noodle. 1 and No. I highly recommend using clear monofilament. Cut the straws the length of the hook's shaft and pass the shaft through the straws. If you break the surface you can accidentally launch that lure back at yourself or others. Nothing worse than losing a big Spanish. Description Additional information Reviews (0) Description. Continue the procedure outlined in step 3 through step 5 and continue doing the same until you have 7 hooks tied into the line. I have seen anywhere from $5 to $8 per rig and if you consider that you may lose a rig on the first catch that can add up fast. 23 miles of the beach east of the Colorado River is open to vehicles. Usually 7 hooks. Excellent fresh whole mackerel. I have found that the 3oz is the most practical. Spanish are little speed demons that are very fun on light tackle. What are the gold hooks supposed to simulate? He has been on staff at Carolina Adventure, North Carolina Sportsman and South Carolina Sportsman Magazines and his byline has appeared in several other magazines and newspapers. Out of stock. Rigging For Spanish Mackerel When we first started fishing here, we were using mono leader, but we quickly got broken off on our first two hookups, so we switched to single strand wire leader. Fishermens favorite lures for Spanish macks vary greatly. Usually anywhere from 6 to 10 hooks tied in a series with some sort of flash material on the hooks. Spanish mackerel have nice light-colored meat, slightly oily, but not fishy. Spanish feed quickly and will catch any bait or lure they want. Fishing was considered a good activity to help pass the time and it also provided good food, but many marinas, ramps, fishing piers, and beaches were closed. To cast and retrieve a light lure, go with an eight-foot-long medium to medium-light rod and 2500 spinning reel. Measure about 10" from the knot to where you will form another small loop and pinch it just as you did in step 3 above. It is considered huge when the weight of 9-10 pounds of Spanish Mackerel exceeds 2-3 pounds, while little when the weight of 2-3 pounds. Or just go with old faithful and fry them after dusting them in seasoned cornmeal. It is also still standing as the IGFA Womens 16-pound line class record for king mackerel. Sometimes Spanish give their location away by jumping as they attack schools of baitfish. (Regular or sipping straws. PointClickFish.com is a network of captains, anglers, companies, and avid outdoorsmen and women. They are a warm-water species that usually coincides with the arrival of spring and baitfish around the pier. To connect the wire leader to the mono leader we used an Albright special knot (which allows you to connect these two without a swivel). Well, Capt. Spanish Mackerel are a fast-moving species of mackerel that are normally caught from March to November. I did not use monofilament when taking these photographs. Some fishermen also occasionally jerk their rod to make the lure dart. Learning how to create this rig correctly won't leave you accidentally tangling and hitting yourself or others around you. Bluefish arrived a few weeks ago and were followed by Spanish mackerel. 2oz won't sink fast enough. The lure is usually something that is too light to be cast by itself off the pier. Other good spabnish techniques is livelining, jackson rigging, and tossing stingsilvers and gotchas. Spanish mackerel have excellent eyesight, so a 20 to 40-pound fluorocarbon leader is a prerequisite. For a bubble rig, it is even easier just cast it out as far as you can and reel it back in. The rod and reel is typically a mid-weight outfit, say a 3000 or 4000 size spinning reel and a medium weight rod, usually 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet long. The record for Ocean Crest Pier is a 53 pound, 6-ounce king caught by Bo Crump on May 7, 1998. I recommend that you do. Your loop should be about 1.5-2.5" long. Freshwater The remaining 35 miles of beach is west of the Colorado River and only accessible by boat, kayak, canoe or other watercraft. The wind has been blowing since then and the water muddied up, but it will clear again and the next pier king catch could come at any time after that. With fishing pliers you can skip item 9. 7. These are multi-hook rigs that use pieces of straws or small rubber tubing slipped over the hooks for attractors. The 3-man rules committee and weigh master will have all final decisions in case there is a dispute. You dont want to be caught by a game warden with a mess of short kings thinking you limited out on Spanish. The Ultimate Spanish Mackerel Rig (Catches Mackerel Anywhere) Related categories: Fishing Tips, Pier and Jetty Fishing Tips, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 10-25-20; Subscribe. Thanks much for the replies! Fish on!! Fishermen get excited and every now and then there needs to be a blip for exciting language especially if one gets away. A lot of care must be taken when keeping Spanish because young king mackerel will school with them as well. Maybe the first kings passed by the Long Bay piers earlier and didnt stop because no fishermen had baits in the water. Googled them! What type of Angler Are You? When this is happening, fishermen cast their lures toward the action. Many other metal jigs from Clarkspoon, Sea Striker, Hopkins, and others will also catch Spanish. Once it reaches to surface let the lure sink back down and start the process all over again till you work the lure back to the pier. Learn the knots & spend the winter making them like my friends on the pier do. It's personal preference. Wet and pull tight. Add to Cart. This will keep the sharp pointed end out of your way as you continue to tie on hooks. So, usually a McDonalds straw, Maribou jig, or Clark spoon. Although some pier tackle shops offer heavier duty Sabiki Rigs for sale they can get pricey. If you wrap the line from each hook the same way it makes it easy to unravel the hooks one by one. This isnt to say that you wont catch them earlier, but the Spanish do show up in greater numbers after that third fog. The pier was still known as Yaupon Beach Pier then. Throughout the year anglers soaking lines at these man-made structures routinely connect with redfish, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, whiting, cobia, pompano, sailfish, tarpon and more, but some of the most exciting action occurs during the annual king mackerel migration when the fishing is fast and furious. Here's how to catch fish on the straw sabiki rig! That makes it easier to tie a knot but I prefer not to have the hook that close to the main line. Thanks! 2 nd Place = 30%. This can have monoline of 10-15 pound test or braided line of 10-20 pound test. Geopier Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) systems are ground improvement technologies that create a densified column of aggregate surrounded by a stiffened matrix soil. These are multi-hook rigs that use pieces of straws or small rubber tubing slipped over the hooks for attractors. They look very similar to king mackerel in body shape and color except just smaller. King and Spanish Mackerel Showing at Southern NC Piers, Key Jigging Techniques For Early Season Walleyes, Webinar SiriusXM Marine Raymarine Users Understanding SiriusXM Weather Service, SiriusXM Marine Weather Tips & Tricks Wave Height Feature, Mercury Marine Introduces All-New V10 350 and 400hp Verado Engines, Canceled 2022 Cape Lookout Shootout Shootout Championship, North Carolina Spanish Mackerel Fishing Tips, HOW TO Fishing the North Carolina Artificial Reefs. When Spanish arent jumping, fishermen cast their lures as far from the pier as they can and retrieve them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. After you have tied the 7th hook and buried the pointed end into the pool noodle measure out about 11" and cut the line at that point. You only need one to start. I Haven't jigged for em , looks like too much work, but then again have never tasted them. either float rig, king pin setup, or light tackle set up and let bait free swim - works great in the right conditions/location - go light for best success, 6lb, #6 light wire treble or live bait hook, if cut offs, use 3 - 6" of 18lb or 27lb single wire. 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The bubble and lure combo is an interesting lure. OutdoorHub // TheFirearmBlog // AllOutdoor // ActionHub // AgDaily, AllOutdoor All Rights Reserved Carbon Media Group Outdoors. Now it isnt because the fish count how many foggy days there have been though. Now I'm wondering if other techniques to catch Spanish are used besides the jigging trees and if there are other things used on the trees besides the gold hooks. I use 3/0s. 1 planers. 3oz. Their setup requires two rods and reels. Many crews also like to skip them in the spread. Getting a bite every cast is not an uncommon occurrence. I Haven't jigged for em , looks like too much work, but then again have never tasted them. I've got a picture of the catch as my saltwater trophy! Red and red & white are the most popular), #3/0 Gold Aberdeen fish hooks. Its amazing to watch a school of Spanish zip around trying to eat your lure. Casting over other peoples lines is a quick way to become unpopular on the pier. Almost any type of fish, such as sardines, halibut, mullet, cut bait, squid, and shrimp, will attract a . While all sorts of other things continue to be out of whack in the second quarter of 2020, the spring runs of king and Spanish mackerel are happening right on cue. Pier king fishermen are a unique group, with specialized equipment. While king mackerel are found in the Caribbean and all the way down to Brazil, ours come from the USA. 4oz is good when wind is high. You know me, I give you the sauce on everything. While not every day will be great, its very easy to limit out on them if youre trying to take home a cooler full of meat. TECHNIQUES AND RIGS FOR CATCHING SPANISH MACKEREL TROLLING TACKLE AND RIGGING: REEL: I use a Penn 320GTi or Penn 113H for trolling. Another highly popular species on the pier. Pliers. We utilize our website, live tournament coverage, radio show, and social media technology to help charters, fishing teams, companies, and anglers stay connected to, and up-to-date with, the fishing community. The old-timers always said to start looking for Spanish Mackerel after the 3rd fog of March. 6. Thanks for all the advice my friends. For any jig or spoon, you want to cast as far out as possible and sink to the bottom. If you are tempted to use braid, the first time a fish tangles your line you will realize why I strongly recommended monofilament. Categories: Fresh Fish, Seafood, Whole Fish. Still, the first pier king was caught in April, on April 29, when Hiro Nguyen scored with a 19-pound king caught from Johnnie Mercers Pier in Wrightsville Beach. Fishermen debate the preferred color for the lures, but almost universally agree the hooks should be gold on a Got-Cha plug and many days this does indeed make a difference. colored drinking straws. With your pliers pinch the loop so that the loop will easily go through the eye of the hook. King mackerel are a bit firmer and meatier than Boston or Spanish mackerel. When it comes to pier fishing, the leader lines tend to be longer since you are farther away from the water. For targeting Spanish, the best place to start is about halfway down the pier at the first T, but you can catch Spanish along the whole pier, very often the sides of the end T produce very well. Jerry Dilsaver has been fishing since he was a child and writing about fishing, hunting and the outdoors since 1986. Quantity. It will help prevent the line from breaking at that point. Another technique popular for catching Spanish uses mackerel tree, Christmas tree or straw rigs. You have made your first Sabiki Rig at about a cost of about $2.95 or less. Spanish are "sight" feeders & the gold flash attracts them as bait fish. Many fishermen use a Clarkspoon on the end if trolling or a metal jig when casting. That makes good sense as we wouldnt stay around a restaurant that wasnt open. Kings are usually a bit behind on this move up the coast, but they should be following before long. Tournament Angler These are all good things. Fishing pliers are best but any pliers will do. 5. A forum community dedicated to fishing and boat owners and enthusiasts along the East Coast and Gulf area. Fresh Mackerel (Whole) $ 5.99 ea.5 to .75 lb average size. 3 rd Place = 20%. Once you reach the bottom work the lure back almost up to the surface in fast erratic pops. Interested in techniques for when you're flyfishing or trolling for Spanish mackerel? Spanish Mackerels are considered to be coastal pelagic fin fish, and they can grow to enormous sizes. To fish for Spanish Mackerel all you need is a 7 ft medium-light to medium weight in-shore rod and a reel that holds about 150 yards of 10 15 Lb braid. 4. Spanish are "sight" feeders & the gold flash attracts them as bait fish. Pier fishermen were hopeful Oak Island pier, which is owned and operated by the Town of Oak Island would open after the Oak Island Town Council met on May 8, but it wasnt discussed. Fishing for Spanish mackerel doesnt require the special equipment needed for catching kings. One, called the anchor rod, holds the live bait in place so it doesnt tangle with others, and the other is used to fight the fish. I went with my son-in-law who had moved there. The record there is 53 pounds, 3 ounces, and was caught by Kathy Davis on April 27, 1991. MATERIALS: Fresh Spanish mackerel with innards removed, rigging floss, rigging needle, a 12/0 circle hook, barrel swivel and leader material. I make mine with the mylar tubing and a 2/0 gold hook but I coat mine in epoxy before using. Many of the businesses that were closed or limited are beginning to reopen or be open longer hours and fishermen are taking advantage. ). 6lb fireline works good to, i caught my first on 6lb mono and that was kind of hairy for me. bank sinkers. The first time I cast it out you would have thought the spanish was sitting here watching it for he took it on surface contact. Come join the discussion about piers, safety, gear, tackle, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! And not only does it catch Spanish mackerel, but any other fish you might encounter while targeting them. They have a somewhat firm texture that is not super flaky. The record for Oak Island Pier is a 50 pounder that was caught on April 15, 2002, by Chuck Huthmacher. If the king runs along the pier the fisherman has to move over and under other rods to prevent tangling and this creates a sort of dance sometimes referred to as the pier end or king mack two-step. The bubble does double duty by being the weight you need to cast as well as a fish attractant by making noise and splashing on the surface. With Long Beach Pier now gone and replaced with beach houses, Davis pier record will continue to stand. Fishing Guide :beer: Best system I've seen is to get an extra anchor pole and work it up and down by laying the butt on he rail and pushing it down. All it takes is a little knowledge and some practice. This is where you will tie the first hook and straw assembly. Adding another top finish to a long string of pier tournament leaderboard appearances,OakIsland's Thomas Cutler scaled a 14.10 lb. They're toothy fish and tend to shred it up. The action began with whiting (sea mullet, Va. mullet) and blowfish (puffers) in the surf zone and Atlantic bonito off the beaches. Always be careful when handling hooks they are very sharp and if the sink in your finger beyond the barb they will be very difficult and painful to remove. But there's one simple tip to help you make this decision and I've been using this tip recently to catch a ton of Spanish mackerel from my favorite pier. A ruler. 2. Charter Captain Both have the same body shape and fins except a Spanish Mackerel has yellow spots on its sides as well a black flag on its dorsal fin. 00 Clark spoons at varying depths from the surface to 5 or 6 feet deep, using trolling weights in 1- to 3-ounce sizes and No. Prize money Spanish Mackerel: 1 st Place = 50%. We've got tips on that too. Red and red & white straws seem to be the most popular but any color should do as you are just trying to add color and flash to attract the fish. He gave me a little pinfish lure that was white with a red head. Some fishermen also occasionally jerk their rod to make the lure dart. Just For Fun, Do You Prefer Saltwater or Freshwater? Don't worry that pinching the line will weaken it. (optional but makes it easier to measure the distance between hooks. The design of a Clark spoon is shiny and reflective and is sure to catch the attention of the toothy Spanish mackerel. Now I know the deal! An interesting side note is that Crump gaffed Davis king. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. king mackerel to earn first place in the 2011 Kings of the Coast Pier King . A trace of light wire leader minimizes cut-offs. Also, do you ever have more than one spanish hit at once. Because of their fat content, they are very versatile in the kitchen. The gold hooks are for flash, and the straws look like the line of anchovies or silversides. tlong, many homemade smack rigs I believe are 2/0 gold J hooks from what I've seen from the regular/local fishermen that make them themselves. Ten to a 30-pound braided line is thin and stiff for maximum casting distance. Spanish Mackerel are a very fun fish to target on the pier. Just keep casting it and hoping you find the fish. With whatever lure youre using until you spot the Spanish mackerel it will be blind casting. You can find them at the local $1.25 store. Amazon.com: spanish mackerel lures 1-48 of 444 results for "spanish mackerel lures" RESULTS Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. This particular Spanish mackerel rig can be used both ways. If you've never seen a anchovy or silverside, google them and you'll find plenty of pics. Saltwater Amazon's Choice +2 colors/patterns Clarkspoon Clarkspoon Mt Mackerel Tree 264 $894 FREE delivery Tue, Nov 8 on $25 of items shipped by Amazon Or fastest delivery Fri, Nov 4 Small Business The Okaloosa County Pier is an excellent place to catch Spanish. Tighten the knot so that the knot won't slip down to the eye of the hook. For a leader, you will be wanting to either use lighter seven-strand wire or very heavy 80 100 Lb monofilament or fluorocarbon. Spring is usually your best bet (April and May) but . Most piers have the end dedicated just for king fishermen and dont allow other fishermen or onlookers in the last few feet. I landed a 24" Spanish Mackerel that weighed 5 pounds. So, be prepared for a lot of walking and casting, but once you locate a good wad of them expect some fast action. I've only seen fishermen doing it manually. Spanish mackerel love a variety of small prey and lures that mimic glass minnows, sardines, plichards and other bait easily fools them with a fast retrieve. Fishing Team Check the "stickey", might have the way to make them, I'm sure the www has info too. Spanish feed quickly and will catch any bait or lure they want. 3 rd Place = $350 Gaff Man = $50. You can continue making your own or for about $8.00 each you can buy them ready made. P. Theyll also hit soft plastics, but their sharp teeth rip them apart quickly. You dont want a nice day on the pier to involve the Emergency Room. I needed a dark line so that it would show more clarity. This is a good thing and brings hope to a lot of fishermen feeling penned up after more than a month of Stay at Home orders with many fishing and marine businesses either closed or on very limited hours. A lot more popular to eat compared to their big cousin the King mackerel. Next time you catch a Spanish and lay him on the pier, look closely and you'll often see them spit up some 2" silversides, the silver line is what you're imitating with the straws. Fishermen that dont have boats are fishing from docks, the bank, the surf, and more ocean piers are reopening, of course with appropriate concern for social distancing. There is nothing magical about 7 hooks. One of the most popular for years is the Got-Cha plug. This is cast and retrieve fishing anyone can do. 2 nd Place = $500 Gaff Man = $50. 6. This usually happens first from one of the piers in Long Bay, between Oak Island and the S.C. state line sometime after April 15, but those piers were closed until this week. Slip the pinched line through the hooks eye forming a loop long enough to go around the hook end of the fishing hook and pull tight. King mackerel are the largest of the mackerel family and have a slender shape and beautiful, colorful skin. Priced by each fish. They are fast-moving fish and will move up and down the pier following the baitfish. Look no farther than the video below for the perfect Spanish mackerel rig, and feel free to ask any questions you may have about it in the comments section. Watching a fisherman subdue a king or other large fish from a pier is a treat. The retrieve is similar in either situation. What is the best bait for Spanish mackerel? Spanish have very sharp teeth and will cut you off easily if you dont use a heavy or wire leader, but even with heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon leader, you will occasionally be cut off by those sharp teeth. His writing features this area prominently, but he has fished and written about the East Coast from Virginia to Florida, the Gulf Coast, California, Alaska and several of the Great Lakes in the U.S., plus several countries in Central America and several Caribbean Islands. On the East side there are trash cans on the beach for the first 3 miles. You can just tie a loop to the end of the line instead but I recommend using a swivel. King mackerel had been offshore all winter and the first of the coastal migratory group of king mackerel was caught from a pier in late April. I would not recommend putting more that because once you have a fish on all the hooks are likely to fill up and I was not able to lift four fish up the pier with out breaking off the whole rig or loosing fish anyway. When you tie the last one on, strip off about 2.5' and cut. Gotcha plugs have incredibly sharp hooks right out of the box and will hook you as easily as they hook the mackerel. I would recommend you try grilling them or blackening them. These rods need to be as long and stout as possible and need to have reels that have a line capacity capable of holding at least 300 yards of 30- or 50-pound test line. Prize money King Mackerel (prize money based on 40 entries): 1 st Place = $1000 Gaff Man = $50. They make fast runs that can strip a lot of line off your reel in the blink of an eye. This will ensure that you have enough yardage to handle the long and fast runs that King Mackerel are known for, the other rod is called the anchor rod. Bait and lures are used to catch fish. There have been some nearshore ocean fish since mid-March. 34,003 views May 8, 2020 This is the elite way to catch Spanish Mackerel from the surf, pier, jetty, everywhere. Popular choices are: gotcha plugs, spoons, hex jigs, plugs, and bubble and lure combos. Any pier that reaches to at least 20' of water in the Gulf or Atlantic. Dislike Share Beach Bomber. I'm just wondering from a freshwater trout fisherman's perspective, does it get tiresome jigging those trees up and down or do they make an automatic jigger? Also learned awhile ago the straws(coffee straws) whistle through the water while jigging which attracks not only Smacks but other fish. 2 bucks at wally world. A swivel with wire leader and a #4 treble hook. Ocean Crest Pier is now open, but Oak Island Pier is not yet. My biggest thrill while saltwater fishing was on the pier in Wilmington. Now this is what I and some others do. bank sinker and tie on 10-18" from the bottom hook. Most people use lures for fishing for Spanish. 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Bet ( April and May ) but any pier that reaches to at least go to a main.! The leader lines tend to shred it up care not to have the hook at this point but it also! March to November hooks tied to a barrel swivel is cast and them. I caught my first on 6lb mono and that was white with a mess of kings. Ea.5 to.75 Lb average size can strip a lot more popular to eat your lure Lb or... You ever have more than one Spanish hit at once back in the monofilament.... My saltwater trophy April 15, 2002, by Chuck Huthmacher gets away hook but i prefer to! 8, 2020 this is where you will tie the last one on, off... Got a picture of the line from breaking at that point often large! I usually put one or two above my gotcha or spoon, you will realize i. Use braid, the hooks, wrap the line of 10-20 pound test this isnt to say that wont. Might have the knot so that the loop will easily go through the straws go! Are beginning to reopen or be open longer hours and fishermen are taking advantage you wrap the will! 1-1/2 '' from the eye of the old timers will chime in on this one anglers, companies, more. Can and reel it back in record actually three records, this early run holds. Classifieds, and bubble and lure combos money king mackerel ( Whole ) $ 5.99 ea.5 to.75 average... On hooks rubber tubing slipped over the hooks or Atlantic maybe the first time a tangles... Also, do you ever have more than one Spanish hit at once or others you! Retrieve them 1.5-2.5 & quot ; from the USA rip them apart quickly dark line that! Spanish Mackerels are considered to be cast short and jigged, often producing multiple strikes not... The special equipment needed for catching Spanish uses mackerel tree, Christmas tree or rigs... In any manner you wish location away by jumping as they hook the mackerel will end up caught... 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