Lazy fishing at anchor

[SV Kittiwake]

We're a month into our trip, and so far the fishing has been great. The mackerel were slow to start, but the Pollock in the Scillies were jumping on the hook.

We've picked up a paravane and now we're a bit fuether south in Southern Brittany, we're getting more mackerel.

Mostly it's either been while trolling feathers / lures or spinning while at anchor. I just bought a squid lure and yesterday (second day of using it) got my first catch when a cuttlefish grabbed it in broad daylight.

I've had it out on a light rod, and stuck off the bow it seems to be doing the 45 degree angle jig up and down as it says to do on the squid jigging websites, just from the gentle rocking of the boat at anchor. Hopefully more will follow, although I think for any squid we'd have to stay up half the night, and as it doesn't get dark until 10:30/11 at the moment, that's a bit much.

Anyone got any tips for passive (read lazy) ways of fishing while at anchor that don't involve actually holding a rod or handline? Any decent ways of jigging for mackerel in a similar way to the squid?

Cheers

SV Kittiwake.

sailingkittiwake.com

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Dynamite is a favourite for non rod fishing.
Have you thought of pots? Shrimp, lobbies...
Mackerel are never going to go for anything that isnt doing more than 4 knots so either trolling or spinning for them.

 

[SV Kittiwake]

Yep, been talking about getting a pot, but it seems in France the two options are either a 50kg big professional fisherman's type pot for 100 euros, or one where you have to sit and watch it and pull it up when a crab crawls onto it. I might DIY one that we can leave out overnight, or try one of the bigger comptoir de la mer shops when we get to one, for something a bit more intermediate. Have you had much luck with potting?

 

[lenten]

you can troll or jig for mackerel----i would troll in areas where the mackerel are thin-----then jig if i hit a shoal---beware catching more than you eat or give away---research has shown that mackerel that have been handled and returned to the sea die----ps i think 4 knots would top end speed for catching mackerel----i would always troll slower

 

[Sybarite]

you can troll or jig for mackerel----i would troll in areas where the mackerel are thin-----then jig if i hit a shoal---beware catching more than you eat or give away---research has shown that mackerel that have been handled and returned to the sea die----ps i think 4 knots would top end speed for catching mackerel----i would always troll slower

The biggest makeral I ever caught was when I was reaching at between 7 and 8 knts.

 

[Robin]

I boughta folding pot at Beaulieu Boat jumble some years back and used set that off rocky bits in Southern Brittanny. I used tins of pilchards, mackerel or chicken for bait that kept ok unrefrigerated on board. The tins were opened and contents used for the bait of course as crabs cannot read English without their glasses Never saw the folding crab pots for sale in France, but lots of French boats carried non-folders stowed on the swim platform.

 

[TQA]

I have used this set up with some success, but have stable prevailing winds and weak tides so the boat does move around much.

Paternoster rig eg weight on the bottom then about 2 ft of lighter line then three hooks each on 1 ft leaders spaced about 2 ft. apart. Set so the weight is just touching the bottom. Bell [small] on the end of the rod. Bait is often chickenskin. I learned to use 100 lb stuff for the main line and 15 lb for every thing else. Every now and then something big would break off one of the hooks, probably a night hunting reef shark. I was told to use circle hooks by an experienced angler and the catch rate improved. Grunts snapper and blue runners are the usual catch with the odd small cuda.

 

[lenten]

sybarite---its a well known fact that ---French mackerel are faster and more efficient swimmers than british mackerel

 

[Robin]

sybarite---its a well known fact that ---French mackerel are faster and more efficient swimmers than british mackerel

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