Nothing quite like delicious mackerel

LAST week I spoke about the great pelagic fishing being experienced around Darwin on the bluewater scene

LAST week I spoke about the great pelagic fishing being experienced around Darwin on the bluewater scene.

Spanish mackerel are one of the most popular pelagic species that can be targeted at this time of year in close. In fact, Lee Point is one of the better places close to Darwin where some great mackerel are caught at this time of year.

Fishing guru Chris Errity with a solid mack.

One of the best ways to catch a Spanish mackerel at Lee Point is to anchor on an area of the reef where the current is flowing over it. Anchor up into the current about 50m in front of the leading edge of the reef. This is often where the mackerel will be patrolling as they look for garfish.

Sometimes you will notice the huge schools of garfish present, and this is another reason why you should target these areas.

Set up a nice berley trail with some oily berley such as pilchards. This will attract the garfish up to the back of your boat and hopefully also the odd Spanish mackerel.

Tie on a small hook and float it out into the berley with a tiny piece of bait on it.

Catch a few garfish and keep them in a live bait tank or bucket of water. Use them as live bait and float them out into the berley trail.

When the mack strikes, have your reel set on a light drag, so it can take off with little or no resistance and take the bait down.

Let it run for several seconds before striking.

Hopefully you will hook up properly on the fish and land it after a strong fight.

Mackerel are famous for their long and blistering runs and their great eating qualities.

Usually a spring tide just after the neaps is the best time to target a mack at Lee Point, with the water clarity still good and a bit of run in the tide to fire the fish up.