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Size matters...what do you measure yours against?
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Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 08 5:45 pm Post subject:

mihto wrote:

Macrel time ALREADY? We are some weeks behind you up here, and macrel fishing has not reached my concious level yet.

Ah right! My apologies - being overparanoid

- your English is a tusen times better than my Norwegian (bet I've mis-spelled even that) and I bet it gives my English a run for its money too.

I'm still not sure we will actually come home with anything - not just skills but the weather has turned a bit more grey and cool - does that make much difference? Because it takes us over an hour to get to an appropriate beach, we can't go very often, so my learning curve is going to be very long

so I am sure I will be holding my hand up for more advice soon!

mihto

Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 3273
Location: West coast of Norway

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 08 5:57 pm Post subject:

He he. Tusen times is just fine. A German friend once told me he refused to say tusen takk (meaning a thousand thanks). To takk (two thanks) should be plenty.

Weather does not matter, except cold wind and rain is making the fishing experience an ordeal. Make sure that the tide is on its way up before you start fishing. Try different depths: sometimes the macrel goes high in the water, sometimes deep. When using a lure, give the rod a proper tug now and again. The changing movement is irresistible. If you are rather inexperienced with throwing lures, get some cheap ones for a start. Once the macrel are on the move they will go for just about anything that moves and cheap lures will save you money. If a lure works well, write down the name and the make in case you lose your newfound friend.

Good luck!!!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 08 6:11 pm Post subject:

I guess at least starting from tusen gives you room for manoeuvre..."to takk" could be a pretty pointed reply!

Last time we went it rained most of the day but I was having enough fun learning to put up with it - it looks like this time risks showers but there should be sunny intervals and at least I won't come back strawberry-coloured.

mihto wrote:

Make sure that the tide is on its way up before you start fishing.

That's handy - I believe we hope to arrive just around low tide so that gives us lots of time to look around and prepare ourselves first, and we don't need to rush back.

Thanks very much for the tips - you never know, I might be trying out your recipes yet (been vegetarian for half my life so there is plenty of learning to do there too...)...there might even be pictures

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 08 6:44 pm Post subject:
Don't forget the disposable barbeque!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 08 6:47 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Don't forget the disposable barbeque!

Portable re-usable barbecue burning lumpwood charcoal made from wood sustainably harvested from a local coppice, surely?

mihto

Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 3273
Location: West coast of Norway

Posted: Mon Jun 23, 08 4:19 pm Post subject:

Bugs, we are waiting for your mackerel story!

Did you go, what did you catch, what did you use when or if you caught anything?

Spurred by your initiative I tried for some mackerel myself and let my German guests have a go at it as well. The surprised "yelp!!" from my friend must have been heard to be believed; it was his first mackerel ever and it was a big daddy who gave him a good fight. After that I was relegated to cleaning.

Thank you for reminding me not to look at the calendar but just test the water. We had a terrific day: sunny, windy with some drops of rain to make us finish the ball and go home to the fishpot.

Why don't you British ever come to Norway to fish?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 08 9:22 pm Post subject:

mihto wrote:

Bugs, we are waiting for your mackerel story!

Did you go, what did you catch, what did you use when or if you caught anything?

Hmmm...it isn't one to keep you awake at night

- we made our trip and my beloved (Treacodactyl of this parish) caught the first one that we saw landed on the beach that day. Hurray! And he was well over the recommended size (the fish, I mean..).

We took him home and fried him simply. I had a forkful while TD polished off the rest - that's the first time I have ever eaten mackeral and I was surprised at how mild and tender it was. Not nearly as much of a challenge to eat as I was worried about. I would be very happy to eat it again.

Unfortunately that was the last of our catch for that day. We were mostly spinning with lures. TD's catch was with a strip of defrosted garfish. Later on, some boys who obviously were regulars came up and settled themselves on the jetty (which we were wary of as it was slippery and indeed one of the boys fell in at one point!) - they were using feathers and caught quite a lot. Others came up to fish the beach from the other side of us, also with feathers, and also caught a few, so it seems there were quite a few fish about, but that we weren't casting far enough or with the right bait. Next time we will try a bit more weight I think and feathers.

But apart from feeling intimidated later in the day by people casting a bit close to me (I ceded my place to them and left TD to it at that point) I really enjoyed the day and my first taste of mackerel and I look forward to trying again late in the summer when it's a bit less busy.

Quote:

Why don't you British ever come to Norway to fish?

Is that an invitation?!

Thanks very much for your tips, I am looking forward to putting more of them in to practice in the future.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 08 9:26 pm Post subject:
Excellent news Bugs, a successful trip and loads of useful info gleaned from the locals behaviour for next time. Mackerel that fresh will be delicate and not overpowering at all. Plus as it's early in the summer its oil content will be lower than an autumn fish

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 08 9:30 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Mackerel that fresh will be delicate and not overpowering at all. Plus as it's early in the summer its oil content will be lower than an autumn fish

That's interesting - I think if we get to go back for another go it will be early September, I should expect that to taste a little more challenging then?

Lots of fun learning about new stuff again

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 08 9:36 pm Post subject:
I wouldn't say challenging when it's that fresh, but it will certainly give you a better dose of omega 3.

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