Mackerel Fishing - Part 1

Living near Loch Riddon there are so many opportunities for harvesting and eating fish and shellfish.

Last summer a friend of mine taught me how to fish for mackerel.  The best time for mackerel is the summer – roughly between mid June and mid September. Try to go around high tide when the huge mackerel shoals move into the Loch. Sometimes gannets will be wheeling overhead also after a tasty morsel. I had never fished for anything before.  I was given a shopping list and went off to invest in a rod (which comes complete with line and reel), some lures (metal fish lookalikes about 7cm long with hooks on the end), some swivel clips ( to connect the line to the lure), a knife, a towel and an old chopping board.  Oh yes and a bucket.

Ready to fish!

We went off, stopped at a likely place (access to deep water) and started.  The idea is to cast as far as you can, let the lure sink a little and then start to jerk the rod whilst reeling in imitating a lively little sprat.  Once you have reeled the line back in (or caught a fish) the process can be repeated.

Some days are lucky and the fish are bountiful, other days are pretty fruitless. On good days, the fish can be kept fresh and clean in a bucket of sea water.

A Day’s Catch

There is a good spot to go fishing if you have brought your fishing equipment to Loch Riddon Bothy.  Drive along the single track coast road toward Colintraive and just before Fearnoch there’s a sign about being a responsible camper half hidden by bracken.

Entrance path to Rubha na Croiche

At this point a path has been worn which crosses a low fence.  Step carefully over the fence and look directly ahead for a barely visible path.  As you follow the path it falls and rises and goes through some pretty boggy parts (Wellies are good).  When a rockface rises up ahead of you turn right and head towards Loch Riddon.  Continue on the path which now skirts the side of the loch before emerging at some rounded rocks at Rubha na Croiche.

Rubha na Croiche

You’ve arrived!  It’s not the easiest path especially when carrying buckets and bags and a rod but just take it slowly and all will be well. It’s a lovely spot for a picnic too and you can sit and watch the activity on the water where Loch Riddon merges with the Kyles of Bute.

Decide which rock you want to fish from and off you go – Tight Lines!

Next week’s blog will be all about preparing mackerel for eating…