Mackerel are one of the classic Aussie speedsters. They hit hard, run fast and are brilliant on the chew, so plenty of anglers plan whole trips around them when the bait schools show up.
In Australian waters, mackerel are mainly a northern and east coast fish, from WA across the Top End and down Queensland into northern NSW. You’ll find them around headlands, islands, reefs, shipping channels and bait-rich coastal water, usually from in close out to the wider grounds. They move wherever the bait is, so birds and surface bust-ups are always worth a look.
Mackerel are aggressive pelagic hunters that smash pilchards, herring, gar and slimy mackerel. They feed by using speed to slash through bait schools, often right near the surface, but they’ll also hang deeper when the bait drops. If food is around, they rarely muck about once they switch on.
Tide changes usually fire them up, especially when current pushes bait past islands, reef edges and pressure points. Low light around dawn and dusk is often best, though they’ll still belt lures in full sun if bait is stacked up. Light to moderate wind helps by breaking up the surface and making fish less wary, but strong wind can make it harder to spot working fish and hold your drift. Smaller swell is generally better for boat control and finding surface action, while bigger swell can still fish well around headlands and islands if bait is concentrated there.
A medium spin or overhead outfit with metal slugs, high-speed stickbaits, trolled minnows or live baits will cover most mackerel work. Use a short wire trace or very heavy leader when the bite-off risk is high, especially around Spanish and spotted mackerel. Keep hooks sharp, drags smooth and a gaff or net handy, because these fish don’t give you much time once they’re boat-side.
Mackerel can chop through a bait school so fast that the first sign they’re there is often bait spraying out of the water like someone tossed a handful of pebbles.