Can anyone advise on when and where to go to catch some North Norfolk Mackerel?

Thanks in advance

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JD - midland reservoir fanatic

Beach or Boat ???

If you going out in a boat you will find them anywhere along the coast but need a fish finder and look out for the dark shadowy patches in the water that is shoals of fish .

From the beach Weybourne is ya only chance really ( that I know of ) as it drops off fast in a series of shingle steps . You will see the shoals if you stand up and look from the cliffs there . I have not had them on the fly from the beach but have taken them there in vast numbers on feathers and have even seen them beaching themselves while chasing the Whitebait in

They will not be there until mid summer though and some years the shoals are not there for long , maybe 2 weeks or so in any real numbers , as they are only moving around the coast .

You could get down to Blakeney and get a boat out from there .

There are times where a few are taken from Cromer Pier at hightide .

Not much else I can tell ya really as thats all I know ......

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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Just an after thought , why Mackerel and not Bass There were good numbers of bass starting to show when I lived there and the numbers were getting better year by year so I would think by now there is some great Bass fishing around Norfolk ??

I used to catch them from all the beaches and because they are happy to come right in close in the surf it would give you many more options/chances for fish from many/any of the beaches .....

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Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Thanks Sweeney

Sure, bass is also an option - what type of tackle would you use from the beach? Fly line or a spinning outfit? Also - what type of fly/bait?

Thanks again

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JD - midland reservoir fanatic

Given a choice I would fly fish as it is much more fun IMHO , but yes take the spinning gear as well .

For the spinning just take a selection of spinners and plugs including surface stuff .

For fly fishing for the Mackerel I wouldn't worry to much , they will take pretty much anything with some colour and shine .

For the bass ?? well to be honest I don't know a lot about it as fly fishing for them is new to me but as much as I know sand eel patterns seem to be good , eg .Surf Candy , you want different colours , black at night though . Have a look here >>>> Home page and have a word with Chris as he will see ya right .

As I said the bass will come right in and can even be around ya feet and you might not see them

At low tide take a walk along the beaches to see what sort of ground you are going to be fishing over to see for both places of interest and dangers .

Sorry i can't be more help on the fly fishing side of things but swff is new to me and am only just getting to grips with it .

Just out of interest , whats the story ?? you going on holiday there ?? if so where and when ??

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Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Josh, the place for mackerel is Cley beach. The mackerel don't come in some years or if they do it's only at night.

Having said that I have seen the bait fish falling out of the breakers onto the beach with the mackerel in hot pusuit. It's difficult to believe the terns aren't going to knock themselves out as they dive in less than a foot from the waters edge.

The best time is towards the end of the summer, put this thread up agian half way through August and I'll tell you whether they are there yet or not.

As for the bass, they are present all around the North Norfolk coast. Cley again would be a good place to start, but all the way round to Snettisham. Some come out most of the year. I probably won't even bait fish for them until half way through May, although that's not set in stone.

You get mostly flat sandy beaches towards Kings lynn going round to shelving shingle with the odd broken ground spots in between.

You can fly or spin as conditions allow. I mainly spin as the wind often comes from the sea when I fish and also what for me might be a decent cast on a small stillwater or river seems absolutely pathetic in the sea.

There are lots of small creeks and rivers going into the sea that also have sea trout, I have hooked and lost one in twentyfive years. Still, keep your eyes open and you will see them occassionally. One thing that I always keep saying I'm going to try, is get a fly to some of the mullet that frequent the mouths of the small creeks and rivers. Just not enough time in the world.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions I'm not an expert but I might know someone who knows.

Matthew.