Coffs Mackerel - local knowledge wanted!

[rids01]

This will be my first mackerel season since moving to Coffs and I'm looking for a bit of local knowledge for some of the better spots close to town.


I've got the GPS marks from Fishnet but if anyone with a bit more local experience has a few tips that would be appreciated.
I've been trolling livies and sometimes lures just around the bait reefs and inner shoals off macauleys but haven't had a hit. Do I just need to persist a bit more?
I know it's only early days for mackerel but I'm keen as to get onto them, only have so many opportunities to get out there so I don't want to waste my time fishing dead water.


I'm going from the harbour (bit of fun that boat ramp) as I'm not set up to launch off the beach (17ft boat by myself with a less than capable car/trailer).

[hooknpull]

Troll around the islands with livies mate quite simple

[The Doctor]

G'day mate,

I spent a few years down that way a while back.

I lived north of Coffs and fished areas that are a bit out of reach of you launching at the harbour but the principle is the same.

We generally didn't start chasing mackeral until around March. Every season is different but January doesn't normally see mackeral in any sort of numbers, you get the odd fish but a lot of time between bites.

I have caught them floating livies, floating pillies, casting metals and trolling lures but the most consistent method I have found around that area was slow trolling live slimies.

Most of our fish were caught in depths of less than 20m. I didn't fish close to coffs but if you are fishing close reefs with bait on them you are probably fishing in the right areas.

Unless there is an early run of thick macks down there at the moment I would be out chasing reds on plastics and leave the 'snook' for a couple of months. When they show up in any sort of decent numbers get some slimies and drag them around at idle over your shallow reefs and you should be able to nail a few.

Good luck
Dave

[Chanlo]

There has been a few Spanish caught lately with a couple of mates getting a few at 8kg up to 15kg. They were on kayaks in close reef trolling live bonito, yakkas and slimies. But try any of the close reefs with livies and your in with a really good chance at the moment.

[fishychrissy]

I remember a few years ago there was one at 26kg caught between Pig Island and the South Wall but I think that was late in the season, April or May I think.
Heard of the odd ones caught off the front of MuttonBird too.
Cheers