Atlantic mackerel

Getting started

Your first try for Atlantic mackerel

One recommended starting point: lure with a hekle from a boat or from shore. More methods are listed under “How to fish”.

1. 1. Place and time

   • Mackerel travel in schools and move quickly. The hardest part is finding the school. Once you have found it, the mackerel will bite on almost anything.3,4,5,6Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 4 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions3ExperienceFluefiske.infoNyttige tips om makrellfiske4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell5OrganisationNorges Jeger- og FiskerforbundMakrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tipsAll sources on this page
   • Best in Jun–Sep, especially in the morning and in the evening.

2. 2. Tackle

   Rod and reel

   Light tackle gives the best sport: a light spinning rod and a small spinning reel, preferably in the trout or sea trout class.3,4,6Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions3ExperienceFluefiske.infoNyttige tips om makrellfiske4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tipsAll sources on this page

3. 3. Rig up: multi-hook rig (hekle) with a lure

   1. 1Main line. Line from the reel or the hand line.7Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page
   2. 2Hekle (multi-hook rig). Several small hooks on short droppers along the same line.4,7Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page
   3. 3Lure or sinker. At the bottom, as casting weight and to get the hekle down.4,7Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page

   How to assemble it

   • →Tie the hekle to the main line.7Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page
   • →Attach a herring lure or a sinker at the bottom of the hekle.4,6,7Sources×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tips7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page
   • →From shore, two or three hooks are enough, so the rig is easy to cast.7Source×Tackle advice from a source of experience · Applies to all regions7ExperienceJakt & FiskeFiskertipset: Hvordan fiske makrell effektivt?All sources on this page

4. 4. How to do it

   • →Cast a herring lure with some droppers or a hekle above it, and you will often get several mackerel on the same cast.4,5,6,8Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 4 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell5OrganisationNorges Jeger- og FiskerforbundMakrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tips8ExperienceNormark Norway (elbe.no)Sjøfiske fra båtAll sources on this page
   • →Let the lure sink and reel in at good speed with jerks and twitches, so that you fish through the water layers.4,5,6,9Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 4 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell5OrganisationNorges Jeger- og FiskerforbundMakrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tips9ExperienceFiske365Hvordan fiske makrell – alt om makrellfiskeAll sources on this page
   • →If you catch a mackerel, cast out again quickly to the same spot. The school is there.4,6,9Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tips9ExperienceFiske365Hvordan fiske makrell – alt om makrellfiskeAll sources on this page

Where

Where to find Atlantic mackerel

Technique and tackle

How to fish for Atlantic mackerel

When

Season and time of day

• →In Norway the mackerel is common from April/May to October, from Skagerrak to the Trondheimsfjord.2Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonmakrellAll sources on this page
• →Through late summer and autumn the mackerel get bigger and fatter.3,4,9Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions3ExperienceFluefiske.infoNyttige tips om makrellfiske4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell9ExperienceFiske365Hvordan fiske makrell – alt om makrellfiskeAll sources on this page
• →Spring mackerel have around 3 per cent fat, while autumn mackerel can have around 30 per cent.2Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonmakrellAll sources on this page
• →Morning and evening are the best times. In peak season you can catch mackerel all day, but twilight is often best.4,6,11Sources×Fishing tip confirmed by 3 independent sources of experience · Applies to all regions4ExperienceHooked.noSlik fisker du makrell6ExperienceVillmarksbutikken.netMakrellfiske fra land – utstyr, sesong og tips11ExperienceLukic Fishing (Danmark)Fang makrel: Guide til sommerens vildeste kystfiskeriAll sources on this page

Rules

Minimum sizes and closed seasons

About the fish

Identification and life history

Identification

• →Spindle-shaped, streamlined body. The back is green or blue, with a series of irregular dark cross bands.1Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetMakrellAll sources on this page
• →Small, separate finlets between the dorsal and anal fins and the tail fin.2Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonmakrellAll sources on this page
• →Small scales and soft skin.1Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetMakrellAll sources on this page

Size

• →Rarely longer than 50 cm or heavier than 1 kg.1,2Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetMakrell2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonmakrellAll sources on this page
• →Can reach up to 65–70 cm and 3.5 kg.1Source×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetMakrellAll sources on this page

Diet

• →Zooplankton such as the copepod raudåte and krill, fish larvae and small fish.1,2Sources×Fact from a specialist source · Applies to all regions1ResearchHavforskningsinstituttetMakrell2EncyclopediaStore norske leksikonmakrellAll sources on this page

Experiences

Tips from people who have fished for Atlantic mackerel

Sources

What this page is based on

The numbers in the text refer to the sources below. Fishing tips must be confirmed by at least three independent sources. Read about our source requirements.