Are you wondering how to fly fish for mackerel?
Fly fishing for mackerel is one of my favorite ways to catch mackerel. While feathering for mackerel is always fun, it can become old quickly. Pulling in strings of fish does not give you the same pleasure as playing a single fish on a line.
Float fishing, spinning, but especially fly fishing for mackerel will give you the most enjoyment while fighting the fish. Especially on light tackle as you feel every quiver through the rod.
However, nothing beats fighting a mackerel on a fly fishing rod. Not only are you connected to the fish through the rod but, as you pull in the line you have an additional point of contact with one of the hardest fighting fish in the sea pound for pound.
In this guide, I will go over the equipment you will need to catch mackerel on the fly and where you should fish for mackerel on the fly.
What Fly Rod do You Need for Mackerel?
The most important factor in choosing a fly fishing rod for mackerel fishing is to choose one that is designed for saltwater fly fishing.
If you get a rod that will not withstand the saltwater, you will soon find you will have a fly rod with its guides (eyes) corroding. Save yourself money in the long run by getting a suitable fly rod from the start.
Mackerel Fly Rod Weight
If you want to use light tackle to get the most enjoyment from mackerel fly fishing I recommend getting a 5wt or 6wt fly fishing rod.
I use a 7wt fly fishing rod as I use it for fishing other species of fish. The heavier 7wt rod is also useful for casting larger flies and dealing with stronger head winds.
I find a 7wt rod is still light enough to enjoy the fight with the mackerel and yet strong enough to get the mackerel out of potential snag areas.
Mackerel shoals move quickly and using a slightly heavier rod can help you land the fish quicker and get your fly back in the water.
Additionally, when you are targeting mackerel, there are likely to be seals about. They will likely try to take your mackerel as you are fighting it. This is when the 7wt rod come in handy for landing the fish before a seal nails it first.
Mackerel Fly Reel
When choosing your fly reel for mackerel fly fishing, you should also choose one that is suitable for saltwater fly fishing.
Saltwater fly reels are typically made of aluminum or stainless steel, an ideal fly reel should be able to withstand the corrosion and damage caused by salt as well as dealing with any sand that may find its way into the gears of the reel.
Fly Lines for Mackerel Fishing
The best fly lines for mackerel fishing are floating lines, sink tips and quick sinking lines. Mackerel move between the shallows and deep water in search for baitfish.
The line you use to fish for mackerel will be dictated by the depth of water they are feeding. You will need a quick sinking line to get your fly down to the depth where the mackerel are feeding. In most cases a sink tip or a sinking line will suffice.
You may also find a floating line will come in handy if the mackerel are feeding very close to the surface.
What is the Best Fly for Mackerel?
When choosing a fly for targeting any species of fish, it is best to choose a fly that closely represents what it eats naturally.
The main prey of the Atlantic mackerel are shrimp, krill, squid, and small fish. In the summer mackerel move close to the shore to hunt shoals of baitfish and sandeels.
I like to use fish imitations when fly fishing for mackerel, color is not so important for catching mackerel, they are voracious feeders and if they are around, they will bite. Finding mackerel is the hardest part of catching them.
Whether, I am using bright or dark colors, I always like to use a fly with a bit of a sparkle.
Below are some of the flies I like to use for catching mackerel.
Fly Fishing for Mackerel from the Shore
There are several different kinds of marks you can explore to fish for mackerel. Piers and harbors are typical venues for mackerel fishing. However, these are unsuitable for fly fishing as they are busy areas where there are likely to be lots of people.
The best locations to fly fish for mackerel are rocky coastal marks. Here, mackerel can be found within casting range within certain times of the year: typically, in mid to late summer.
Rocky marks with deep water are your best bet for catching mackerel on the fly. These areas have deep water at all states of the tide. Shoals of mackerel can be found as the small baitfish are pushed towards the rocks.
Mackerel can be found in the mid to high water range and can be caught on floating or sinking lines. Don’t ignore the areas of water close to you as sometimes the fish are right beneath your feet.
Casting in these areas can be a problem as the length of your back cast is often limited by the rocks or cliffs.
Fly Fishing for Mackerel from a Boat
If you have a boat and usually fish for mackerel to get baits to target other species of saltwater fish you can catch, you will be able to fish mackerel more easily.
You will be able to take your boat to directly to where the mackerel are. Rather than feathering for them, unless you need a lot of baits, you can fly fish for the mackerel instead as fly fishing for mackerel is much more enjoyable.
Fly Fishing for Mackerel from a Kayak
If you cannot afford a boat, a great alternative is to get yourself a kayak.
The kayak will allow you to fish further away from the coast and it will open more fishing opportunities to catch mackerel on the fly.
Additionally, when summer is over the kayak will come in useful for targeting other species of fish such as seat trout or targeting other species of saltwater fish.