Omega 3

[claymore]

Dear Heart informs me of the value of Omega 3.
Apparently the finest source is mackerel.
I have just returned from a sailing weekend where, try as he might, out specialist onboard angler failed to liberate said beast from its briney lair. Several reasons were given for this circumstance, which had its hidden costs as we were forced to dine out at the Lord of the Isles (The angler ate fish) but the main one was to do with velocity and the inability of the scottish mackerel to keep up with the various baits that were thrown its way - Whilst Claymore is no Racing Snake of the Oceans, we did heave-to, in the finest Yachtmaster style that would have caused major salivation from the lips of the Cunliffe - but even this ploy failed to cause engagement with the lips of a single silver darling.
Does anyone have any idea of the cruising/hunting/bait devouring speed of the average, single helping sized mackerel?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[bigmart]

Its a bit early in the year yet for mackerel. On the south Coast i don't really expect to get em before June & they increase into the warmer months. Maximum trolling speed about 4knots but 2-3 is better. Try using a Paravane to get the bait down to where thre fish are.

Martin

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[AndrewB]

As Bigmart says, too early in the year yet. Mackerel travel round the coast, our way (SE England) the best month is August. The best place is over offshore rocky ledges and irregularities on an otherwise mud/sand bottom.

They'll take a bait at any speed that a cruising yacht can reach but at more than 3 knots there is a good chance they'll be ripped off before you can land.

The big shoals of yesteryear have gone, alas. Back in the 1970's I remember times of putting down half a dozen feathers on a line and pulling up half a dozen mackerel in under a minute. These days it may take some hours to get a single one.

 

[vyv_cox]

I agree with Bigmart, it's too early yet. When the little white jellyfish arrive, so do the mackerel. I favour sailing or motoring uptide at a couple of knots water speed but faster can be successful. All the tourist fishing boats working out of Scheveningen seem to use no engine power when fishing, just drift with the tide. In clear water almost any feathers or shiny stuff will do, if water is a little cloudy the shiny reflective types seem to do better.

At anchor we have had some success with a 6 inch length of stainless tubing, drilled to take three or four hooks. Jiggle up and down quite smartly. This also works for winter codling off Aberdeen, where the boats almost always drift.

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[ParaHandy]

Mackerelius bionicus

... were few and far between. Authoritative statement from
http://www.baywater.fsnet.co.uk/seafishing4fun/issue6/boat/page2.html
merely proves the wisdom of what your "angler" was wingeing/muttering/swearing from the rear end (and this lot think sea fishing's fun *&$£@@ ..........)

Oh and .............. not that rear end, either .......

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[longjohnsilver]

Still some big shoals

Was cruising around Falmouth about 4 years ago and saw the biggest shoal you coukld ever wish to see, all on the surface which I have never seen before, there must have been millions of them.

But could I catch one ..................................

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[ParaHandy]

Rhubarb crumble ..

now, if you'd been as cantankerous and goat-like as you were in Tobermory (refusing to allow shore parties) we could have laid some "ground bait" enhanced with rhubarb crumble, 80/- and Gold Best the night before?

Would a mutiny been legal, I wonder, on the grounds of endangering crew in a F11 whilst the captain has his bedroom slippers on? Whereas other captains played with brass balls in their pockets and had other, obvious, character defects, a mutiny justified on account of the skipper's footwear .... !


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[ParaHandy]

3kn? hmmm ... agreed but even that's a touch optimistic, Andrew. He was doing 6+kn under bare poles (exaggeration but only just) ... and still expecting his silvery bonanza ....

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[Gunfleet]

Use a paravane and a spinner and they're easy to catch at headlands (as suggested by the man in the Southend fishing shop). North foreland, Beachy Head, Cap de la Hague - I've caught them at each. And no, I don't have the faintest idea why. Having used basic gear successfully I bought some fancy kit in Jersey with the intention of upping my catch. Not a sausage since.
John

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[jimi]

Re: Mackerelius bionicus

Really .. in seas teeming with potential fruit de la mer, I thought the skippers strategy of leaving the steaming reef of Tobermory behind as fast as possible quite sound together with the additional benefit of only being able to catch those fit and large enough to catch the bait

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[claymore]

ParaHandy
ParaVane
Is there a connection here?
And whilst we are on the subject of my ageing footwear, have you changed your grundies yet?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[ParaHandy]

Re: Mackerelius bionicus

he had to leave Tobermory as his supply of Boddington’s was nearly out? And there wasn’t much left of the Scotch either. Have you checked the Oban Times yet … I’m sure he’s going to get a mention ‘ere long!



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[jamesjermain]

Omega ?

What is Omega three - not O<font size=1>3</font size=1> = Ozone?

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[claymore]

Re: Omega ?

Definately Omega Three as found in the humble, yet elusive mackerel.
One of our party did make the observation that as there is now a Global shortage of Cod, how can we secure future supplies of Cod Liver Oil?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[bigmart]

Re: Omega ?

It's the fatty oils found in fish which are supposed to be good for the heart. Of course after the frustration of the wind up merchants on here you'll be needing some!

Martin

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[claymore]

Paravane

You've seen his legs then!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Mackerel Fishing a lesson

Number one

Find a fishing partner. Fishing from boats must always be done in a minimum of two. Amateurs cite safety as the reason for this. The real reason however is that there must always be an audience when you cast £50 quids worh of lures weights and assorted tackle, rest the rod on the gunwahle rail or whatever to reach for beer and whole lot goes over to davey jones.

Number two
find a boat.
This in true fishing circles means somthing that floats but that looks capable of sinking or breaking down. Only show offs have engines that start first time without a mixture of prayer and witchcraft.

number three
find a stooge
Fishermen preferring a sport that entials meeting cold wet slimey things. soon resort to banter and get bored of each other.It is important to lure a friend along who hasnot been before so you can play all your best jokes on him, bore him with stories and wince as he catches more than you. Ideally they should be conned into thinking that you are footing great expenses to allow them a glimpse of your 'sport' and so will turn up with a waitrose picnic and a decent scotch.

number four
find a spot.

all the good ones will have gone long before you coax your engine to life. the spot you will pick will be slightly further from homeport than the engine is capable of. it will also be barren of any sealife except some assorted detritus to foul your prop. this will hold true until your stooge casts. at this point , jesus like, he will fill the net with assorted fish you told hijmnever frequent this stretch.

number five
find a good excuse

having dumped your stooge triumphant on the jetty with his haul it will be necessary to comeup with a good story, just as soon as the lifeboat tows you to your mooring. This is because the stooge will have left his scotch which you will drink before retiring to the local angler's arms to recount your day. You iwll also have to explain to loved one's why on acloudless day's fishing you have returned covered in engine oil, curry, Macallan vomit and timothy taylors but not a single fish scale.


As the old saying goes
give a man a fish and he willeat for a day
Give a man the means to fish and he will site around all day getting pissed on a riverbank.



<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>I can't walk on water, but I do run on Guinness</font color=red>

 

[claymore]

Thank you for that gem

We did in fact obtain a stooge in that Jimi stole Para's rod whilst Para had gone of to ablute in the hope of landing a big one. (That's Jimi, you understand, not Para who had already landed a big one in Tobermory but we'd best not talk about that before the 9 o'clock watershed). Somehow he managed to empty the drum of the reel around a couple of moored boats and then proceeded to attack said reel with his Yachtmaster Leatherman tool to try to sort things out. At this point Para was observed returning from the aforementioned ablutions with something of a spring in his step and one of those "Great, now for a spot of fishing" looks on his face. Fearing the worst I retired to the bilges and began working furiously on the stern gland greaser in case I was seen to be colluding with the 'Destroyer of Para's tackle'
Para took it well, in fairness and almost seemed relieved when he declared that that had probably put an end to fishing for the day.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[ParaHandy]

The Grundies ensign

I know where yours end up!

(he's got the tattiest ensign in the western isles)

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[claymore]

Re: The Grundies ensign

Hmm
I don't think it helped when you hooked it with the 27lb shiny thing that you were flinging at the fish all weekend!
Oh - and Zodiac have arranged to pick up the dinghy - they say they've never repaired a slash that big and are looking forward to the challenge!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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