Mac from a yak

[Redyak]

Has anyone here ever caught Spanish Mackerel from a kayak? I know the preferred method here on the bay is to troll with spoons, but I have heard of folks casting to them. Got the mac itch bad, but I don't own a power boat.

[chex]

In a Hobie Mirage yak you might be able to sustain the preferred trolling speed long enough to catch some. I think you need to go 4 or 5 mph or something like that. I'd love to catch one.

[J.A. Veil]

Most boaters troll at 6 to 7 mph for Spanish mackeral. Maybe some super athletes in Hobies can sustain that pace, but I cannot do it in a paddle kayak for more than a few hundred feet. I guess the kayakers with electric motors could give it a shot.

My first ever Spanish was caught by casting and retrieving lures just outside of Hatteras Inlet on a guide's boat. If you are lucky enough to find a school of Spanish, you can toss a heavy lure (like a 1 to 2 ounce metal spoon) over the school and wind back as fast as possible. I also caught barracuda in Florida using a similar technique. But until you find a good school, that is a low probability event.

[ictalurus]

I've hooked two while casting from my yak but lost them both when they jumped--one at Drum Point and one at PLO. I casted my trolling rig (inline sinker, leader, Tony spoon) at a jumping mack both times and reeled like hell. It was dumb, but I had it handy. Both times, the fish hit it, ran, then jumped. When it jumped, the sinker stayed in the water which gave the macks all the slack they needed to throw the spoon. We might have a shot at getting some this year since it seems like there's a bunch around. If you see them jumping, cast something that doesn't involve a sinker and leader. I bought a Bass Pro reel that has a recovery rate of something like 43" per turn. Hopefully, I'll get to use it this year.

[EDGEWATER]

Trolled for mac in my parker this weekend. Boated over 20 in two days. They are there! Off poplar island and the mouthbof eastern bay. If you want a shot at them now is the time.

[chimo]

I caught a few trolling an x-rap behind a cobra explorer down in Florida in May. Theres no way I was going anywhere near 5mph in that yak either I don't know anything about fishing them around here but isn't the fast troll to weed the rock and blues out? Have to imagine if you put a lure in front of them you have a chance even if you are going a little slower.

Chimo

[ronaultmtd]

Spanish Mackerel are tasty, fresh filets on the grill...I like to toss a crocodile spoon with the red plastic teaser with a Revo SX HS- 7-1 ratio is plenty fast...

[Southerly]

i've caught many from powerboats, but haven't caught them from a yak. i think the 6-7mph speed is as much about not catching the little schoolie rock/blues that are typically in a mix with feeding macs. getting your yak on the feeding macs is the other challenge. fwiw - i have hit them in water just under 20' off kent island. spotted surface action w/o sea gulls and got on em. in my little experience, the shipping channel is more common place to find them. and they may sometimes find you w/o any indication of surface feeding.

[Meadeo]

I have caught several casting to breaking blues and rock as they mix together. The trick is to have a heavy spoon 1-2 oz andcast out across the school let it sink tomid depth then retrieve rapidly. It worked well for me in the past. I plan to try and bag some this season before they head south out of the yack. 2 OZ sting silvers are perfect.

Meadeo

[jet]

that's my #1 to catch from that yak. havent tried this year yet though. fark.