Light Tackle Mackerel!

I took the wife and kids out on one of the rental skiffs in Capitola today.  While I was busy catching a series of too small to keep rockfish, my wife and kids started catching Mackerel on my daughter's lite ugly stik combo.

I took a turn too, and man was it fun!  Little guys were bending the rod 180, stripping drag and jumping.  Just little bits of squid on a 1/² oz Carolina rig I tied up for the kiddos at the lake this summer.  6 ln test or whatever the combo came spooled with.

Anyway, I've caught Mackerel before but never on a trout setup, and it was such a blast I had to share.  If you never have either, bring one with you next time you go out while the mackerel are in, you'll be glad you'd did!

Agreed! Mack’s on a trout or bass set up are a lot of fun! 1/2 oz kastmaster will get them all day long and you’ll never have to rebait.

Ooh, I like that idea.  I've always had a soft spot for kastmasters, just a simple elegant lure that goes really far when you toss it.  I'll try that on my yak some time soon.  I've got half a mind to head out with my daughter's rod next weekend and focus on macks instead of the usual groundfish...

Agreed! Mack’s on a trout or bass set up are a lot of fun! 1/2 oz kastmaster will get them all day long and you’ll never have to rebait.

That's what I actually use when going for macks.

I had a heck of a fun time catching them on Saturday!  My favorite was tossing my 1oz Kastmaster that was gold and has a green sticker.  Got probably the biggest smelt i've ever seen as well! The BIG MAC's were hitting a full squid I was trolling back to the harbor. The biggest was 15" and pulled drag on my trolling setup!

I had a heck of a fun time catching them on Saturday!  My favorite was tossing my 1oz Kastmaster that was gold and has a green sticker.  Got probably the biggest smelt i've ever seen as well! The BIG MAC's were hitting a full squid I was trolling back to the harbor. The biggest was 15" and pulled drag on my trolling setup!

If you are using light tackle is like a mini tuna fight  They are still around right?

Probably, they were all over in Capitola Saturday.  Totally reminded me of spunky strong wild trout on that little rod... Great fishing for the kiddos (and for me!). We were all having a blast.