Mackerel Spoons

[The Mad Cat]

The other post about hooking Mackerel has got me thing about fishing with my Grandfather nearly 50 years ago in FNQ and he always had at least one large spoon on the troll when chasing Mackerel. I remember when the Mackerel were about we always did OK on the spoons. He used big heavy hand lines tied to a push bike tube which were looped over the rowlocks (he wasn't into sport fishing).
I have seen them for sale, so does anybody still troll spoons.

TMC

[scottar]

Using them in conjunction with a down rigger or trolling paravane in the bay for spotties and schoolies is still a pretty common method.

[jackson4300]

When trolling for macks we have a heavy handline which we use only for trolling spoons, big bungee cord to a cleat.
One day with some not so experienced deckies, we had hooked a spotty somewhere between the seaway and halfway to palmy and none of them had noticed. When I went to relieve myself I noticed it being dragged along on the surface, it was pretty much dead by the time we got it in the boat....

[TheGurn]

Sounds like my first (and last) effort trolling for flatties.

[BigE]

Spoons are a good way to target mackerel, have used them for about 35 years. like all things each area has different things that work.

Pink flash was my go to in FNQ and here in the sth east Qld gold flash is the standout. have a mate in mackay that fishes only green.

BigE

[The Mad Cat]

Hey BigE
Do you mean some of that flashie tape stuck to a spoon or one that is all pink?
I had a half crazy idea about linking 2 or 3 small to medium spoons together with heavy swivels to imitate bait fish swimming together or it may look like a Wolf Herring. Not sure if it would swim well.
Too much time sitting around waiting for the wind to drop and coming up with all kinds of mad ideas.

TMC

[BigE]

TMC
just talking about the stick on flash tape, have tried the pink double hooks ones with limited success they work but i just like the chrome look better have also had good sessions with the Bumpa Bar brand, like too use 50g bumpa bars and i put 2 of them together with split rings (back to back not inline) to make a small but heavy (100g) lure for casting at schools.

tried hooking them inline (so your not the only mad one ) but didnt have any success at all with them linked end to end.

BigE