Oakland Estuary 9/22 (The best time I've ever had catching bait!)

Good stuff, Nate.

What size Kastmaster were they fallin' for?

can't speak for nate but i usually use a 1/4oz blue/chrom kastmaster on the bottom of my sabikis, and thats usually the one that the macks hit.  i also replace the treble with a single hook so they are easier to deal with since they're so slimy and flappityish.

Thanks, BMB!

np, you could also go to 1/8 if you want but its harder to cast.  nate said they are keying on pinheads, so try to match the hatch.  just something flashy will work, they're not that smart. 

a guy on pierfishing was mentioning catching them in the estuary the other day on fly gear with streamers.

What size Kastmaster were they fallin' for?

1/8 oz. 

I'm pretty sure the shad darts were 1/8 oz., too.  Hard to say for sure, its been quite a while since I dumped them out of the package into a tackle box and forgot about them.

whats the range on those? i'm in humboldt bay,do we get those here? i've caught alot of herring and jacksmelt but never a mackeral.

Old school Capitola report: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,5112.0.html


A few Mack recipes:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,5116.0.html
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,5118.0.html

Z

whats the range on those? i'm in humboldt bay,do we get those here? i've caught alot of herring and jacksmelt but never a mackeral.

My DFG Fish ID book (2007) says they are seldom caught north of Monterey Bay. But I caught a bunch in Tomales Bay in July, so they must be moving north. The book says they are Pacific Chub Mackerel. Very tasty on the barbie. Good with Zinfandel or some other hearty red.

thanks for the recipes Zee...

now to catch some of those tasty guys...

rog

Im gonna give it a try tomorrow..

I love catching mackerel, they fight hard, plus they taste good! One of my favourites in fact.

I would recommend smoked mackerel to anyone. With soft boiled eggs. Amazing stuff.

I would recommend smoked mackerel to anyone. With soft boiled eggs. Amazing stuff.

Northern Boy,
I hv smoked salmon and tuna but have not done macks. Is it basically the same way? Fillet? Marinate overnight?
Would be my next attempt at the smoker which has been idle since salmon ban.
Danny

I picked up a bunch of nice macs in tomales last sunday on just an unbaited sabiki(fish skin with beads) with a small weight at the end.   I seemed to get them everywhere I was and they kept biting even after it seemed the baitfishes had turned off.

I bled and iced them, and then at home put them in a little pan with olive oil, salt, pepper for a bit and then grilled on the weber.   Was worried my wife and daughter might not like them because of the bones but they both loved it!

whats the range on those? i'm in humboldt bay,do we get those here? i've caught alot of herring and jacksmelt but never a mackeral.

My DFG Fish ID book (2007) says they are seldom caught north of Monterey Bay. But I caught a bunch in Tomales Bay in July, so they must be moving north. The book says they are Pacific Chub Mackerel. Very tasty on the barbie. Good with Zinfandel or some other hearty red.

We've been catching them up in Bodega Bay for the past few years as well.

That was a sweet report. Totally as engrossing as reading about stripers in LM....well, pretty close anyway .

I fished mackerel a lot as a kid. sometimes they can be finicky, sometimes they are like pirahna. Whichever-they fight like mini tuna, an absolute blast no matter how old you are you never outgrow it.

Glad you got out & got some fun OTW Nate