Mackerel fishing in the solent

[Adam and Hayley]

I'm looking to just drop a line over the side of the boat with a few feathers on it.

But I have NO idea where is a good place to go.

Any ideas?


We'll be launching from warsash and will prob head round the IOW

[gpsguru]

Normally during the summer months a line dropped anywhere off the South coast will produce Mackerel, however, for some unknown reason they are a bit scarce this year and havent really arrived in good numbers yet.

I went out yesterday and spent about 5 hours fishing and we found no Mackerel at all in Lyme Bay.

As for the IOW, you would be better asking the question on the World Sea Fishing Forum (WSF) ......... there are a lot of members form that area.

[Adam and Hayley]

Thanks GPSGuru

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by Adam and Hayley

I'm looking to just drop a line over the side of the boat with a few feathers on it.

But I have NO idea where is a good place to go.

Any ideas?


We'll be launching from warsash and will prob head round the IOW

Down by the forts off of Portsmouth is usually good or the Bramble bank, but agree they have been pretty thin this year. Look for flocks of seagulls on the water, they usually know where to look!

[rik_elliott]

No mans land fort , drifting with the tide has always been pretty good for me. But as the others say, catches this year are seriously down on previous years. I hope it will pick up later in the summer

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by rik_elliott

No mans land fort , drifting with the tide has always been pretty good for me. But as the others say, catches this year are seriously down on previous years. I hope it will pick up later in the summer

Loads about in Whitby a fortnight ago, maybe they've all headed north.

[rik_elliott]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Loads about in Whitby a fortnight ago, maybe they've all headed north.

maybe.... we had dolphins a few weeks ago so the solent still has a few surprises and that makes up for the lack of mackerel.

[paintman]

I usually only fish for mackerel to use as bait.
Trolled handline with either a set of feathers or a single mackerel spinner & once found just put the helm over & go round in circles until you have enough.
If the local fishermen won't tell you where they are just watch out for any of the smaller dayboats that are mackerelling with handlines - soon as they start going round in circles you know where the fish are. Binoculars can be very useful!

[Chief Wiggam]

No Mans Land is patchy but on the other hand an interesting area to be in.
Bembridge Ledge or the Princessa buoys are quite good.............

[SteveHall]

Loads of Puffin Island this weekend as well...