Fishing from a small boat

[Cliff]

Excellent thread for novices like me, keep it coming you old hands

[Brerabit]

I’m boating around Loch Etive in a couple of weeks for a few days. I know absolutely nothing about fishing but I do know that grilled, very fresh mackerel is just about my favourite seafood.

I’ve been given a sea rod/reel kit (Fladen - Fission Red ?) which a friend bought for a holiday and never used.

• How far, if at all, would mackerel go up the loch or will I need to fish nearer open water?
• Is trailing a line the best way for mackerel?
• What do I tie on the end of my line to tempt them - would prefer artificial bait if possible - not squeamish - just for simplicity.

[Stray]

Get some of these

Attach one end to your line and a lead weight to the other, lower to the seabed, then either lift the rod tip up and down so the lead bounces along the bottom, or wind in slowly, say 15 to 20 turns, then drop the weight back to the bottom.

[Stray]

The rod you've got is a bit over gunned, Sail repair uses that sort of rod to pull up 100lb plus Skate.

[Brerabit]

If a 100lb skate takes my hook, he gets to keep the rod as well...

Second thoughts - What sort of horsepower would he be putting out?

Seriously though, is the rod a disadvantage? I didn't think it was a very expensive one.

[Brerabit]

If a 100lb skate takes my hook, he gets to keep the rod as well...

Second thoughts - What sort of horsepower would he be putting out?

Seriously though, is the rod a disadvantage? I didn't think it was a very expensive one.

[Stray]

It's fine for hauling up Mackerel, but the fish you'll be catching won't give much of a fight on it.

[Brerabit]

Stray's suggestion of a set of feathers is spot on for catching mackies, however I would suggest that as a beginner you reduce the number of feathers to 3, or 4 at most, to start with.
Mackies frenzy feed in shoals and I know from personal experience that it is quite possible to hook several at once. Trying to deal with five or six vigorously wriggling fish tangled on a line in a small inflatable boat is quite a challenge.
You can either buy smaller sets or split the bigger ones; I'd also suggest carrying spare made up sets ready to clip on, otherwise you'll spend more time on the water untangling than angling.
Just my input as a recent convert to this fishing malarkey and fellow lover of fresh grilled/barbecued mackerel.

Mackie fillets fresh from the Forth

[Brerabit]

Thanks Roger, this sounds really promising.

I haven’t started yet and already I’m getting advice on how to avoid catching too many fish…

I have vague memories as a kid going out on a ‘trip round the bay’ and as we returned towards the harbour we reeled in this orange string on a little wooded frame. The multiple hooks on the line had been baited with bits of fish by the skipper - and every hook had a mackerel on it.

Earlier in this thread I enquired about how far up the loch I would find mackerel. I’m guessing they probably don’t venture too far in but I don’t really have a clue.

[Brerabit]

I can't vouch for Loch etive as I haven't fished it yet but slightly further north is Loch leven where the larger maccies are found at the very end at Kinlochleven this I know from experience.