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Photo: Mikael Nyman, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Scomber scombrus
How to catch Atlantic mackerel
Atlantic mackerel feed in 44–68°F water and bite best at 48–62°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 4 waters.
3 pts · trophy at 16"Feeds 44–68°FBest 48–62°FIn season nowFishing pierDock / pilingsLedge / hard bottomPass / inletChannel edgeMarker / buoy
About
The striped mackerel of the North Atlantic: in from the shelf every spring, off every Maine dock all summer, and the live bait every big striper and bluefin is caught on.
How to fish it
A sabiki or mackerel tree jigged off the dock, the ledge or the canal; chum keeps them around. Keep them lively for stripers and tuna.
What it eats
sabikismackerel treessmall metal
What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
Hook#1–4/0
Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
Braid10–30 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereRules differ by state — check Massachusetts DMF before you keep one.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Mid & North Atlantic