Sea Fishing

Mackerel Fishing for Beginners UK

Mackerel are the fish that make sea fishing click for beginners. They hunt in shoals within casting range of the shore, they hit a moving lure without hesitation, and a pier, harbour wall or rocky point nearby will hold fish from June through to October. You do not need a boat or years of practice to catch your first one.

This guide covers the simple spinning setup that catches most shore mackerel, the tides and marks that put fish in front of you, and how to look after your catch once it is on the bank.

Why mackerel are the best first saltwater fish

Most beginners start sea fishing on a beach, cast a heavy lead into the dark and catch very little. Mackerel are the opposite experience. They are fast, greedy and unbothered by ordinary line, so a modest setup fished in the right place out-fishes an expensive one fished in the wrong place.

The shoals also come to you. Mackerel push baitfish against piers, walls and headlands, which is why a row of anglers on a pier can all be into fish at the same time.

When mackerel come close to the shore

The main run around most of the UK starts in late May and carries on through September, with the biggest shoals often showing in August and early September. October still produces fish around deep water marks before the shoals move offshore for the winter.

Tide matters more than time of day. A flooding tide over deep water pushes baitfish into casting range and the mackerel follow them in, so target the two hours either side of high water and favour a big spring tide over a small neap.

Dawn and dusk give you the best light, but a bright lunchtime on a working pier can fish just as well. The one condition that really hurts is flat, gin-clear water, because mackerel feed far more confidently with a little colour and chop on the surface.

Where to fish for mackerel from the bank

Deep water within casting range is the whole game. Piers, breakwaters, harbour walls, rocky headlands and the ends of groynes all fish well because the bottom drops away quickly and baitfish get pushed against structure.

Work a mark by fanning your casts: straight out first, then left and right, varying the depth by counting the lure down before you retrieve. Mackerel often sit in a narrow band of water, so once you find that depth you can repeat it until the shoal shifts. Watch the birds as well, because diving gulls and terns are marking baitfish.

Safety deserves a mention here, because more anglers get hurt at mackerel marks than anywhere else in sea fishing. Wet rock and pier steps are slippery and swell can reach the bottom of a wall without warning, so fish with somebody else on rocky marks and keep one eye on the sea.

The simple mackerel setup that catches fish

Almost every shore mackerel is caught on a string of feathers or a small lure fished on the move. A standard rig carries three to six small flies on short snoods above a lead, and the fish hook themselves as they chase the fluttering tails.

Cast out, let the rig sink for a few seconds, then retrieve steadily with the rod tip low to the water. If nothing hits, count the rig down for longer so you search deeper water, and vary your retrieve speed before you change rigs. Most takes come in the first few seconds as the rig lifts off the bottom.

Feathers with luminous beads and a reflective body fish well in coloured water, and a single small lure on a light rod is the more enjoyable option when the shoal sits right under the wall.

Rod, reel and line for shore mackerel

Two rod choices cover almost all shore mackerel fishing. A 9ft to 10ft light spinning rod rated around 20g to 60g is ideal for working lures close in, because it is light enough to cast all day. If your mark needs distance, a 12ft beachcaster such as the NGT Telescopic Beachcaster gives you the length to lift line clear of a high wall and the backbone to cast a two or three ounce lead.

For the reel, a 4000 size fixed spool is the sensible default. The Shimano FX 4000 FC holds enough line for shore work and its front drag copes with a mackerel run without locking up. Load it with 15lb monofilament, or 20lb for rough ground, and the Berkley Trilene Big Game 20lb spool is a popular choice for exactly that job.

Add a landing net if you are fishing from a height. The FLISSA Foldable Landing Net packs down small and speeds up unhooking, which does far less damage to the fish than swinging it up a wall.

Lures and baits that catch mackerel

Feathers are the classic and they still account for more fish than everything else combined. Beyond feathers, small metal lures, spinners and soft plastics all work when the fish are feeding hard. Pre-rigged soft lures in the 8cm to 10cm range, such as the TRUSCEND Easy Catch set, save you tying traces on a windy pier, and a pack of hard minnow lures gives you a shallow option when mackerel chase baitfish high in the water.

Bait is a back-up rather than a first choice. A strip of sandeel or mackerel belly fished on a simple running ledger takes fish on the days when the shoal follows the feathers without committing. Our sea fishing rigs guide covers the traces worth learning, and the beginner lure round-up compares lures by price and target species.

Landing and handling your catch

Mackerel spoil quickly, and how you treat them in the first ten minutes decides whether you eat well or not. Wet your hands before you touch a fish, unhook with long-nosed pliers rather than fingers, and get it off the hot stone of a pier straight away.

Bleeding a mackerel takes seconds and makes a real difference to the eating. Cut just behind the gills, let the fish drain, then put it into a cool bag with a freezer block. Mackerel that sit in the sun for an hour are only fit for bait, which is the most common mistake on a busy pier in August. Cook them the same day, and freeze anything spare for winter pike and conger bait.

Rules, licences and what to take

Sea fishing in the UK does not need an Environment Agency rod licence, which is one reason mackerel make such an easy start. Our guide to sea fishing rod licences explains the difference from freshwater fishing. Check the rules for the mark as well, because some piers charge a small daily fee, and pack a cool bag, pliers, a cloth and a spare packet of feathers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is September a good month for mackerel fishing?

September is one of the strongest months of the year for shore mackerel in the UK. The shoals are still close inshore and they feed hard before moving out to deeper water for the winter, so piers and harbour walls that produced fish all summer keep producing. October still fishes well around deep water marks, although the fish often sit further out as the water cools.

What is the best tide for mackerel?

A flooding tide over deep water is the best tide for mackerel, because it pushes baitfish into casting range and the shoal follows them in. Two hours either side of high water is the window most anglers target, and a big spring tide normally out-fishes a small neap.

Do I need a rod licence to fish for mackerel in the UK?

No. Sea fishing, including mackerel fishing from a pier, beach or boat, does not need an Environment Agency rod licence. You only need one when you fish for freshwater species such as carp, bream and roach. Check the rules for the pier you plan to fish, because some charge a small daily fee.

What size hooks do mackerel feathers use?

Most shop-bought mackerel feathers carry hooks between size 4 and size 8, and that range suits the fish perfectly well. Mackerel have small mouths and sharp teeth, so a fine wire hook holds better than a heavy forged pattern. If you tie your own rigs, size 6 on a snood of around 10cm is a good starting point.

Can you catch mackerel from a beach?

Yes, and the best beach mackerel fishing happens where the sand drops away quickly into deep water. Cast a string of feathers or a metal lure past the first bank and retrieve it through the surf, fishing the two hours around high tide. Steep shingle beaches and estuary mouths are usually more productive than long, shallow sands.

How do you keep mackerel fresh after catching them?

Bleed the fish straight away by cutting just behind the gills, then put it into a cool bag with a freezer block or a bottle of frozen water. Mackerel spoil faster than any other UK sea fish, so leaving them in the sun on a pier ruins the flesh. Cook them the same day and freeze anything spare for bait.