Atlantic Mackerel: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Maine coast, ME.

Fishing region

Season in Maine

Peak months: Jul, Aug, Sep.

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Maine DMR: appear in late spring in many harbors, coves and coastal rivers. Maine DMR Sept 2017 report: around the Saco Bay islands, picking up in Casco Bay. OTW Oct 10 2024: packed around the Isles of Shoals, plenty at Boone Island. (Our inference)

Season by region

Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Maine	JFMAMJJASOND
New Hampshire	JFMAMJJASOND
North Shore MA	JFMAMJJASOND
Cape Cod	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Harbors, coves and coastal rivers from late spring (Maine DMR); Frisbee's Pier at Kittery Point and Cape Porpoise Pier when mackerel are running; around the Saco Bay islands in September.

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

Maine DMR: enjoyed as table fare and especially prized as bait for other game fish.

Recipes for atlantic mackerel

Typical: Under 1 lb (Maine DMR). Large: Up to 2 lb is not unusual (Maine DMR).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the ME limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Maine Department of Marine Resources before you keep a fish.

Sources

Maine DMR species sheet: Atlantic Mackerel (Official source)
Saltwater fishing report, Sept 6 2017, compiled by Bruce Joule, Maine DMR (Portland Press Herald) (Official source)
On The Water: Coastal New Hampshire and Maine Coast Fishing Report, Oct 10 2024 (Angler knowledge)
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)

All the fish of Maine

Atlantic Mackerel