Atlantic Mackerel: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for New Hampshire seacoast, NH.

Fishing region

Season in New Hampshire

Peak months: Jul, Aug, Sep.

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OTW May 13 2021: numbers off Hampton Shoal Ledge out to the 2KR can. OTW June 2017: from just east of the Hampton River mouth. OTW Sept 2024: near the harbor mouth, drifting near Odiorne Point. OTW Oct 2024: packed around the Isles of Shoals. (Our inference)

Season by region

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

Where to find them

From just east of the Hampton River mouth to Hampton Shoal Ledge and the 2KR can, near Odiorne Point and the harbor mouths, and around the Isles of Shoals in fall (OTW).

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 live or chunk bait for stripers.

Recipes for atlantic mackerel

Typical: unknown. Large: unknown.

Limits

FishOS has not checked the NH limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before you keep a fish.

Sources

On The Water: New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report, May 13 2021 (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report, June 29 2017 (Suds 'n Soda, Dover Marine, Saco Bay Tackle, Webhannet) (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Coastal New Hampshire and Maine Coast Fishing Report, Sept 26 2024 (Angler knowledge)
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 New Hampshire

Atlantic Mackerel