Atlantic Mackerel

Season in Cape Cod

Peak months: May.

Patch 2013 (local angler): Atlantic mackerel inundate Cape Cod Bay in May, with the East End of the Canal, Barnstable Harbor and Billingsgate Shoal named. No summer or fall Cape data found, so the rest of the year is marked low. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Cape Cod Bay in May: the East End of the Canal, off Barnstable Harbor and near Billingsgate Shoal (Patch 2013).

Schools in open water; rarely in casting range.

What to look for

Marks on the sounder or birds over small bait; once found, a school can fill a rig.

What to throw

Silver casting spoon (Clarkspoon or Drone style)1/2 to 1 oz, No. 0 to 1 / 2.5 to 3.5 in. Burn it. Fast, steady, just under the surface.

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Leader

Common mistakes

• Chasing them on surface plugs (small tins and tube rigs work better)

Landing

Swing them in.

Handling

• Multi-hook rigs tangle when several fish are on

Unhook over a bucket; keep hooks clear of hands.

Keep or release

Kept for the table and as bait.

Recipes for atlantic mackerel

Typical: unknown. Large: unknown.

Limits

FishOS has not checked the MA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Patch (community post): 7 Secrets to Catching More Fish this Spring on Cape Cod (2013) (Angler knowledge)
• Maine DMR species sheet: Atlantic Mackerel (Official source)
• NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-141: EFH source document, Atlantic mackerel (1999) (Official source)
• The Fisherman: Winter Mackerel Like the Good Ol' Days (Gonzalez, 2019) (Angler knowledge)
• The Fisherman: Editor's Log, Boston Macs Are Back! (Broderick, 2024) (Angler knowledge)

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