Atlantic Mackerel

Season in North Shore MA

OTW May 7 2026: mackerel a no-show so far. OTW July 30 2026: readily available on the North Shore. OTW Oct 15 2026: in close to Beverly Pier and Salem Willows Pier and as close as Hewitts Cove, still numerous. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Piers and coves: Beverly Pier, Salem Willows Pier, Hewitts Cove (OTW Oct 2026).

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

MA DMF: strong flavor; sometimes smoked or eaten raw; a popular baitfish.

Recipes for atlantic mackerel

Typical: MA DMF: up to 16 in and around 2 lb. 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

• On The Water: Massachusetts Fishing Report, May 7 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Massachusetts Fishing Report, July 30 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Massachusetts Fishing Report, Oct 15 2026 (Fore River Fishing Tackle, Tomo's Tackle, Fishing FINatics) (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)
• MA DMF: Learn about Atlantic mackerel (Official source)

All the fish of North Shore MA