Mackerel - A Versatile Bait When Targeting Game Fish by Onshore Anglers

Mackerel is one of the most versatile and sought after car insurance prices for onshore anglers targeting sharks, big cob, rays and other flatfish. The firm flesh make it easy to handle, and the Mackerel has a lot of smell and oil that attracts game fish from long distances. Live mackerel is a brilliant bait for offshore anglers targeting species like Garrick, Cob, Cape Salmon / Geelbek and sharks.

The most common mackerel used by anglers for "casting" or "sliding" bait is the CHUB Mackerel. The head and body is greenish in colour while the bottom part of the body is white. Small faint spots are visible on the body and the conference calls unlimited fin is yellowish in colour.

Mackerel are highly sensitive to rough handling and should you ever catch a few for live bait they should simply be shaken off the hook without actually touching the fish. If this is not possible, handle them gently and then drop them into the live-well or bait bucket. Keep in mind mackerel uses a lot of oxygen.

If you do have "fresh" mackerel and you would like to freeze them to use for bait later always freeze them with the tail facing up. This will ensure that the blood runs to the head. This is one of the most important part when sliding bait for sharks, kob or flatfish. The easiest way to do this is take a normal PVC pipe, cut it in 30 cm lengths, make it stand upright in your freezer and "slide" the mackerels in head first.

Interesting fact: If you ever hear someone talking about mackerel sharks he / she is referring to either the Great White Shark or the Mako Shark.

Stefano Schoonees

www.overbergangling.comOverberg Angling

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