Mackerel

Fish

A streamlined, torpedo-shaped fish with iridescent blue-green tiger-stripe markings across its back and a silver-white belly. No scales are visible to the naked eye along most of the body.

Facts

Shoals in huge numbers close to shore in summer, making it the classic first fish for beginners on feathers.
Swims constantly and never stops moving — even when resting, water must pass over its gills.
One of the most sustainable fish to eat in the UK, and a top-tier bait for bass, conger and ray.

UK fishing rules

No recreational minimum size or bag limit currently applies to shore-caught mackerel in the UK, though stock health is monitored and rules can be introduced regionally — check local notices if fishing commercially or in bulk.

Where to catch Mackerel (120 marks)

Mark	Region	Season	Method
Aberaeron	Wales	Jun–Sep	Float-fished or spun from the harbour wall on a flooding tide.
Aberdeen Beach	Scotland	May–Sep	Feathers cast from the sand
Abersoch	Wales	Jun–Sep	Float-fished or feathered off the jetty and harbour end of the bay on a rising tide with clear water.
Aberystwyth Stone Jetty	Wales	Late Jun–Sep	Feathered or spun from the jetty in calm summer conditions.
Amble Harbour	North East	Jun–Sep	Feathers, best June through September
Amroth	Wales	Jun–Sep	feathers or float-fished bait in summer, alongside gurnard and dabs
Arbroath Harbour & Cliffs	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers from the harbour in summer.
Ardglass (Golf Course Rocks)	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Spinners/feathers
Ardrossan Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers worked from the harbour wall in summer.
Balnakeil Bay, Durness	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers when shoals show close in
Bangor Pier (Co. Down)	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Strings of feathers cast and retrieved off the pier head or outer wall in summer.
Berwick-upon-Tweed / Spittal	North East	Jun–Aug	Feathers off the pier
Bexhill Seafront	South East	Jun-Sep	Feathers, best in August
Blyth South Harbour	North East	Jun–Aug	Feathers
Boscastle Harbour	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathered from the harbour wall when shoals move in close.
Bossiney Haven	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners cast off the rock ledges as the tide floods in.
Bridlington South Pier & Harbour	North East	Jun–Sep	Feathers when the water clears at high tide
Brighton Marina West Arm	South East	Jun–Sep	Float-fished fish strip or feathers from the upper bays when shoals move along the wall in summer.
Brixham Breakwater	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers fished from the outer third of the breakwater
Broadstairs Viking Bay	South East	Jun-Sep	Feathers or spinners in late spring/summer
Broughty Ferry Pier & Castle Green	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast and retrieved when shoals are in the estuary mouth.
Bude Breakwater	South West	May–Sep	Feathers or casting jigs over high water
Budleigh Salterton	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners cast from the main beach
Burntisland Beach	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers when shoals push into the Forth.
Campbeltown Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners worked off the harbour wall on the drop.
Carrickfergus Harbour	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Feathers, especially around dusk under diving seabirds
Cemaes Bay	Wales	Jun–Sep	Feathered off the harbour breakwater or rock ledges on strings of feathers, best fished over high water.
Charlestown Harbour	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners fished off the harbour wall in summer.
Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset)	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners cast into clean water on the drop-off close in.
Cley-next-the-Sea Beach	East	Summer	Feathers cast off the shingle — busy with anglers in season
Colwyn Bay	Wales	Jul–Sep	feathers off the pier area on the flood
Crackington Haven	South West	Jun–Sep	Strung feathers worked from the rock ledges when shoals push in close.
Criccieth	Wales	Jul–Sep	feathers in late summer when shoals push into the bay
Cromer Pier	East	Jun–Sep	Feathers worked mid-water on quiet summer evenings.
Deal Pier	South East	May–Sep	Feathers off the pier head when the sea is settled
Donaghadee Harbour	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Feathers/daylights
Dornoch Beach	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small lures when shoals are close in
Dover Admiralty Pier	South East	May–Sep	Feathers or spinners cast into the harbour current
Duckpool	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners off the rocks on a rising tide when shoals are in close.
Dunbar Harbour & East Beach	Scotland	Summer	Lures or feathers off the harbour.
Eastbourne Seafront	South East	May–Sep	Float-fished baits or small feathers off the pier on light gear
Exmouth Beach & Exe Estuary Mouth	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small lures cast from the beach on a flooding tide in calm summer conditions.
Eyemouth Harbour & Gunsgreen Point	Scotland	May–Aug	Feathers or spinning from Gunsgreen Point
Filey Brigg	North East	Jun–Sep	Spin feathers or small lures from the outer scaurs on a rising tide.
Findhorn Beach	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers from the beach when shoals are close in
Fishguard	Wales	Jun–Sep	spinners, lures or daylights worked off the breakwater in summer
Folkestone Mole & Copt Point	South East	May–Sep	Feathers or a small casting jig off the harbour arm on the flood
Fowey Harbour	South West	Jun–Sep	Easy sport from the pontoons on feathers
Fraserburgh Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Small mackerel strip or lures
Gairloch Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers when shoals are in the bay
Girvan Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers off the harbour wall on a rising tide.
Great Yarmouth	East	Jun–Aug	Spinning or feathers
Groomsport Harbour & Orlock Head	N. Ireland	Jun–Aug	Feathers or casting for mackerel, peaking in July
Hartlepool Headland	North East	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners in daylight
Harwich Ha'penny Pier	East	Summer	Feathers or float-fished bait
Hastings Stade	South East	May–Sep	Feathers cast out beyond the fishing boats when the sea is settled
Helmsdale Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers when shoals are in close
Holyhead Breakwater	Wales	Jun–Sep	Feathered or spun from the outer breakwater when shoals are in close.
Ilfracombe Pier	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers fished over the high-water period when shoals push into the harbour.
John o' Groats Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers worked mid-water when shoals are in
Johnshaven Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers when shoals are inshore.
Kilkeel Harbour	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the harbour walls
Kirkcaldy Esplanade & Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers off the harbour when shoals are in the bay.
Largs Pier & Shingle Point	Scotland	Jun–Aug	Feathers off the pier end or the shingle near the burn mouth.
Larne Lough Shore	N. Ireland	Jun–Aug	Feathers near the harbour and headlands
Lee-on-the-Solent Seafront	South East	Aug-Sep	Feathers as shoals move close inshore
Llandudno Pier	Wales	Jun–Sep (historic)	Feathered or float-fished from the pier head in calm summer conditions — not currently accessible.
Lochinver Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers fished off the harbour jetties when shoals arrive
Looe Harbour & Banjo Pier	South West	Jun–Sep	Simple feather rig fished off the quay walls or Banjo Pier, often 4 at a time in summer shoals.
Lossiemouth East Beach	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers from the point when shoals show
Lyme Regis (The Cobb)	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners fished from the outer wall on the flood
Margate Harbour Arm	South East	Jun-Sep	Feathers from the arm end
Marsden Bay	North East	May–Aug	Feathers and spinners
Milford Haven	Wales	Jun–Sep	spinners or feathers from any of the quaysides in summer
Millook Haven	South West	Jun–Sep	Strung feathers or a small spinner worked off the rock platforms as shoals push through on the flood.
Mumbles Pier	Wales	Jun–Sep (historic)	Feathers or float-fished fish strip, popular with youngsters from the platforms in summer.
New Quay	Wales	Jun–Sep	feathers or spinners from the harbour wall, best two hours either side of high water
Newquay (Towan Beach)	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the beach or harbour in summer.
North Berwick Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers off the harbour pier end or Platcock Rocks.
Oban North Pier & Dunollie Point	Scotland	May–Sep	Feathers or spinning, best May–June but productive all summer
Paignton Pier	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or float-fished strip from the pier rails
Peterhead Harbour & Ugie Beach	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers spun from the piers
Portpatrick	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spun sandeel from the harbour walls and rocks in summer.
Portreath	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the harbour walls in summer.
Portrush Harbour	N. Ireland	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the harbour arm on the flood in calm summer conditions.
Portstewart Harbour	N. Ireland	Jun–Aug	Feathers/daylights in calm conditions
Prince of Wales Pier	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or float-fished strip bait during the day when shoals are present.
Pwllheli	Wales	Jun–Sep	feathers or spinners from the beach when shoals are close in
Ramsgate Royal Harbour (East Pier & Harbour Arm)	South East	Jun-Sep	Feathers off the outer pier on the flood
Roker Pier	North East	Jun–Aug	Feathers cast from the pier during the summer mackerel run, heavy beachcaster gear.
Rothesay Pier, Isle of Bute	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the small permitted fishing area on the pier.
Salcombe (Bolt Head)	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners fished off the rocks in summer.
Saltburn Pier	North East	Jun–Aug	Feathers or spinners from the pier end in daylight on a summer flood tide.
Saundersfoot	Wales	Jun–Sep	float-fished mackerel strip in season
Scarborough South Bay	North East	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners over high water
Seaham Harbour	North East	Jun–Sep	Feathers over high water
Selsey Bill	South East	Jun-Sep	Feathers/float tackle
Sheringham West Beach	East	Summer	Feathers off West Beach
Shoreham Harbour Arms (East & West Arm)	South East	Jun-Sep	Float or feathers, best at night in high summer
Sidmouth (Port Royal)	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners cast from Port Royal, best early morning
Slapton Sands	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners, productive well into the evening in summer.
South Shields Pier	North East	Jun–Aug	Feathers/spinners in numbers during the summer run, best from the Round End.
Southend Pier	East	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners worked mid-water in summer when shoals move through.
Southsea Seafront	South East	Jun–Sep	Feathers or float-fished fish strip from South Parade Pier and along the open beach.
Stonehaven Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers fished off the harbour walls on bright, calm days at higher states of tide.
Stranraer Harbour, Loch Ryan	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers worked off the harbour in summer.
Swanage Pier	South West	Jun–Sep	Float fished at 8–10ft under the pier, feathers or a single strip
Tarbert (East Pier), Loch Fyne	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Strings of feathers cast and retrieved off the East Pier, best when shoals push into the loch.
Teignmouth Seafront & Back Beach	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the beach or quay wall on summer evenings when shoals move through the estuary mouth.
Tenby Harbour	Wales	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners worked close to the harbour wall on the flood tide, especially when shoals push in against the stonework.
Tobermory Harbour, Isle of Mull	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers off the harbour wall once shoals move in from June.
Tongue Bay	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers where the bay opens to the sea
Trevose Head	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small metals cast off the point when shoals are showing.
Troon Harbour & Ballast Bank	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers and spinners from the harbour wall
Ullapool (Loch Broom)	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers off the pier/harbour walls, especially evening shoals in mid-to-late summer.
Welcombe Mouth	South West	Jun–Sep	Feathers or small spinners worked mid-water off the rocks when fish are showing.
West Bay	South West	Jun–Sep	Float fished with feathers or a strip of mackerel from the piers
Whitby West Pier	North East	Jun–Sep	Spin feathers or small lures off the end of the pier in daylight, especially on a rising tide.
Whitesands Bay	Wales	May–Sep	float tackle fished from the headland rocks at St Davids Head
Wick Harbour	Scotland	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast into open water when shoals show

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