between five and seven knots.
Trolling speed for Spanish mackerel is between five and seven knots. At this speed the 15-pound leader is going to twist no matter how many ball bearing swivels you use. Having one in the mix will slow down the inevitable, but it won’t stop the twisting.
What is the ideal trolling speed?
Generally 1.8 mph creates the best action for most crankbaits and 2.4 mph creates the best action jerk baits, you will need to test different speeds to determine the correct speed to create the best action for the pike lure you are trolling.
What is the best speed to troll for king mackerel?
seven to ten knots
There are several methods to lure and catch King mackerel, including straight trolling at seven to ten knots. You can deploy a variety of baits, but popular baits that bring plenty of fish are Spoons, Halco, and Clark.
How much line should you let out when trolling for Spanish mackerel?
For this type of trolling from a kayak, I keep my line out between 30 and 40 yards behind me. Trolling a flat with oyster bars and other structures on days when you are struggling is an excellent idea. Also, Spanish Mackerel have very sharp teeth and can cut straight through your leader.
What pound leader is mackerel?
Fluorocarbon leaders that range from 25 to 50 pound test line have become common for Spanish mackerel fishing. Because most Spanish mackerel will be in the 2 to 3 pound range, you will most likely only need 8 to 12 pound test line as your main line, which is why the leader is so important.
Is 3 mph too fast for trolling?
The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
How far behind a boat should you troll?
At least 50 yds out to 100 yds. for the main lines and a couple of shorter sets closer to the boat.
How do you troll mackerel?
The trolling tackle you need to catch Spanish mackerel: a 0 Huntington Drone spoon tied directly to 30 feet of 15-pound mono line. The line is wrapped around a leader spool then attached to a ball bearing snap swivel. The snap swivel can be attached to either a trolling sinker or a a #1 Huntington planer.
What size hooks for king mackerel?
Starting with a single 2/0 lead hook, add trailing segments wired to No. 4 treble hooks. Some anglers will “peg” all stingers on a big-bait rig, as this keeps the hooks right near the strike zone.
How far offshore are king mackerel?
King Mackerel Description
They are found both inshore and offshore, out to a depth of about 600 feet (but more commonly in 50-150 feet).
What colors do Spanish mackerel like?
The best Spanish mackerel lures combine shiny metal and sparkly colors to imitate a grass minnow, silverside, or anchovy. Spanish often feed on small baitfish, so the big challenge is matching the size of the minnows. Trolling a small lure requires adding weight or planer to keep the lure under the water.
What is the best mackerel lure?
Small soft plastic lures also work well. Mackerel will nail these in the top 20 ft or so of water. Effective lures include the Fiiish Black Minnow 70, Savage Gear Sandeels in the mini 10 cm or small 12.5 cm sizes and many others that imitate small baitfish such as sandeels and sprats.
Do you need wire trace for Spanish mackerel?
Spanish mackerel lures
Very importantly, attach your lure to a wire trace for any toothy critter like mackerel and wahoo etc. Use crimps for multi-strand wire or a simple haywire twist with single strand wire.
Should leader line be same as main line?
A leader is a length of monofilament line tied to the end of the main line that is on your fishing reel. It can be a metre long if you fish for bream and whiting or it can be 6 or 7 metres long if you gamefish. It can be lighter than your main line or it can be much heavier than your main line.
How do I slow my boat down for trolling?
Shut Down Your Boat’s Engine(s)
With triple outboards, for example, shutting down the center engine (or leaving it in neutral) will help you troll slower. If that’s not slow enough, use just the center outboard and turn off the two outside motors. With quad outboards, try running just two motors.
Can you troll with bottom bouncers?
A good trolling speed for bottom bouncer fishing ranges from 1.0 MPH to about 1.5 MPH. Speeds this slow are going to require a small gasoline kicker motor or an electric trolling motor.
What speed do you troll for bluefish?
Trolling for bluefish can be done with both live bait and lures, and a speed of around 2 to 2.5 mph is a good starting point.
Is it better to troll with the current or against it?
When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.
How much line should you let out when trolling?
spread all your lines throughout the water column, c) set the bulk of your lines to run at 20 feet, know for a fact that’s where they’ll actually be, and make sure a few lines are running shallower and deeper than that depth to cover all the bases until you get a bite or three and can adjust accordingly.
Should you troll with or against the wind?
Trolling with the wind is the most important. You are able to maintain your speed better when motoring downwind than if you were bucking waves head on. Also, when heading into the wind, gusts of wind will grab the nose of your boat, whether it’s aluminum or fiberglass, and spin you off course.
What is the best time to fish for mackerel?
The best time to catch mackerel is dusk or dawn and at high tide. Spring high tides are often the best as they push bait fish closer into shore and the mackerel follow them in.