Mackerel is a fish worth knowing before you step aboard. Kestrel Warrior runs short mackerel trips off Brighton, within about a mile of shore, typically over sand. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the mackerel
Mackerel is a fish worth knowing before you step aboard. It has a blue-green back marked with dark wavy bars, a silver belly and a forked tail, with small finlets behind the fins, and no scales you can feel. Most are about 30 cm long, though the species can reach 60 cm and around 3.4 kg. Mackerel live in open water, from the surface down to about 200 m, and they prefer water above 8C. In spring and summer the shoals come close inshore, and in autumn and winter they move offshore, which is why summer is the time anglers think of mackerel. Off Sussex the shoals can come in close, and Kestrel Warrior runs 90-minute mackerel trips within about a mile of shore. A mackerel does not look big, but a string of them on a feathered line is a lively sight. Kestrel Warrior says its trips catch mackerel up to about 2.5 lb each, which is a good fish when the usual size is about 30 cm.
On the boat
Mackerel are caught from a boat on a string of 4 to 6 feathers, fished 8 to 20 feet deep. Kestrel Warrior advises looking for diving seabirds to find the shoal. Lures, spinners and floatfished strips also work, according to Angling Times. Summer is the peak off Sussex, with shoals close in, and Angling Times names August as the best month in Britain. Kestrel Warrior runs 90-minute mackerel trips within about a mile of shore, typically over sand.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 6 lb 2 oz 7 dr (2.790 kg)
- Where
- off Penberth Cove, Cornwall
- When
- 1984
- Angler
- W J Chapple
Confirmed British boat-caught record: W J Chapple, 6 lb 2 oz 7 dr (2.790 kg), off Penberth Cove, Cornwall, in 1984. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are accepted by length only, with a qualifying boat length of 55 cm.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The minimum landing size is 20 cm, or 30 cm in the North Sea, according to the Gov.uk table checked in 2026. The IUCN lists mackerel as Least Concern. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
Atlantic mackerel can reach about 3.4 kg and 60 cm, yet most are only about 30 cm. A fish of 2.5 lb on a Sussex trip is therefore a good one, going by Kestrel Warrior's own figures.
Questions about the mackerel
What is the British boat-caught record for mackerel?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: W J Chapple, 6 lb 2 oz 7 dr (2.790 kg), off Penberth Cove, Cornwall, in 1984. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and newer claims are accepted by length only, with a qualifying boat length of 55 cm.
Is mackerel caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. Kestrel Warrior runs short mackerel trips off Brighton, within about a mile of shore, typically over sand.
When is the best time to catch mackerel?
Off Sussex: Summer is the peak, with shoals close in (Kestrel Warrior). Small numbers reported from Brighton Marina and Shoreham in May and September 2025 (Prime Angling). Around Britain: All summer, with August named as the best month (Angling Times).
How big does a mackerel get?
Usually about 30 cm; can reach 60 cm and about 3.4 kg (Wikipedia). Kestrel Warrior says its trips catch mackerel up to about 2.5 lb each.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Atlantic mackerel: en.wikipedia.org
- Kestrel Warrior mackerel trip: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Angling Times UK sea fish species: anglingtimes.co.uk
- Sussex IFCA species: sussex-ifca.gov.uk
- Gov.uk MCRS in UK waters: gov.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
- Prime Angling West Sussex report 28 Sep 2025: primeangling.co.uk
Picture: Hans Hillewaert, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
