Complete Guide to Horse Mackerel Fishing: Techniques, Equipment and Expert Tips

🐟 Complete Guide to Horse Mackerel Fishing: Techniques, Equipment, and Expert Tips

The horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), also known as “suro” in many Italian coastal regions, is a pelagic fish belonging to the mackerel family. Characterized by a streamlined body and silver reflections with green or blue hues, it is one of the most common and fun species to catch along the coasts of the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic.

✅ Why fish for horse mackerel?

Horse mackerel are fast, wary, but often present in large schools, offering multiple catches and continuous action. They are suitable for beginners due to their relative ease of location and capture, and also for experienced sport anglers, who can refine techniques like light drifting or sabiki fishing for maximum results.

🎯 What you will find in this guide

In this complete article, you will discover:

🔍 Where to find horse mackerel throughout the year
🎣 The best equipment, from rods to terminal tackle
⚙️ The most effective techniques (from sabiki to light bottom fishing)
🍽️ How to store and cook it deliciously
⚖️ Regulations and catch limits to follow

Get ready to experience one of the most dynamic and accessible fishing adventures, with all the technical information you need to successfully tackle a horse mackerel fishing trip!

🧬 Horse Mackerel Profile

The horse mackerel (scientific name: Trachurus trachurus) belongs to the Carangidae family, the same as amberjacks and jack mackerels, and is a very common pelagic fish in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

📏 Average Size

Length: 20–35 cm (Atlantic specimens can exceed 50 cm)
Weight: generally between 200 and 500 g, but larger individuals can surpass 1 kg

🍽️ Diet

It feeds mainly on zooplankton, micronekton, small crustaceans, and small fish, which it catches with rapid attacks in schools. Its feeding habits vary according to the season and prey availability.

🌙 Activity and Behavior

Crepuscular and nocturnal species, very active during dark hours.
Forms large schools in constant motion, often mixed with other small pelagics such as garfish, sardines, or mackerels.
During the day, it tends to stay in deeper waters (30–70 m), while at sunset it rises to the surface to feed.

🔍 How to Recognize It

👉 Elongated and streamlined body with silvery reflections and bluish hues on the back
👉 Large eyes, suitable for vision in low light conditions
👉 Marked lateral line, decorated with hard spiny scutes typical of carangids
👉 A small dark spot is often visible on the operculum (behind the head)

📌 Curiosity:

Although considered a “poor man’s fish,” horse mackerel has tasty and light flesh and is increasingly appreciated in Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine (where it is also served raw as aji sashimi or aji tataki).

🌍 Horse Mackerel Habitat and Behavior

The horse mackerel is a pelagic species that prefers coastal and semi-deep waters, frequenting seabeds ranging from 15 to 150 meters deep. However, it can rise toward the surface, especially in the presence of abundant plankton or during particular times of the day when light and temperature are favorable.

📍 Where to Find It:

Shallows, submerged reefs, and drop-offs habitats rich in nutrients and small organisms
Port areas and artificial structures such as piers and breakwaters, which attract its natural prey
Offshore, near wrecks or navigation buoys, where concentrations of forage fish often form
Frequently associated with schools of other small pelagics such as anchovies, garfish, sardines, and mackerels, taking advantage of their presence to hunt

🌅 When to Fish for Horse Mackerel:

Best season: spring and early autumn, when horse mackerel are most active and closer to the coast for feeding and spawning
Ideal times: dawn, sunset, and nighttime hours, when horse mackerel approach the surface most
Using artificial lights during night fishing attracts plankton and consequently schools of horse mackerel, increasing the chances of a catch.

🧰 Recommended Gear for Horse Mackerel Fishing

Horse mackerel, thanks to its curious nature and tendency to move in schools, is an excellent target for various fishing techniques. Choosing the right gear can make all the difference, whether fishing from a boat or from shore.

🎣 Boat or Reef Fishing (Light Bottom Fishing)

Ideal for vertical fishing over medium depths, especially during twilight or nighttime hours.

Rod: telescopic or light bottom fishing rod, 2.7–3.6 m long, sensitive yet sturdy
Action: medium-light, ideal for 15–50 g to feel even the most delicate bites
Reel: size 2500–4000, with smooth and precise drag to manage the fish’s quick reaction
Line: braided PE 0.6–1.0, excellent for sensitivity and control, with a 0.20–0.25 mm fluorocarbon leader for greater invisibility in water

🔸 Useful Tip: use light sinkers (30–50 g) and 2-hook rigs with thin branch lines to increase hook-ups in active schools.

🎣 Light Spinning Fishing (from Shore or Harbor)

Perfect for those seeking a more sporty and dynamic approach, taking advantage of horse mackerel’s surface activity.

Spinning rod: 1.8–2.4 m long, fast action for long casts and good sensitivity
Lures: mini jigs, micro metal jigs, small egi (size 1.5–2.5) or realistic soft plastics weighing 3–10 g
Retrieve: alternate jerks and pauses, simulating struggling small fish to trigger strikes

🎯 Ideal for night fishing in harbors, especially near artificial lights.

🪝 Effective Rigs

Horse mackerel is a schooling and curious fish, perfect for targeting with multiple and dynamic rigs. Among the most used and productive are:

1️⃣ Sabiki (or Tataki) – The Secret Weapon for School Fishing

The sabiki is a Japanese rig designed to target small pelagics like horse mackerel, mackerel, and garfish, and is very popular in the Mediterranean for its effectiveness.

🔧 Key Features:

Structure: 3 to 6 hooks tied in series on very short branch lines (5–8 cm)
Decorations: hooks adorned with feathers, iridescent strands, glow-in-the-dark or crystal flash to attract fish in low-light conditions
Terminal: quick-release sinker from 20 to 60 g, adjusted according to current and depth (recommended 30–50 m)
Rig line: nylon or fluorocarbon 0.25–0.35 mm, with a stronger main line to withstand rapid retrievals

🎣 How to Use:

Lower it slowly until it touches the bottom, then retrieve with vertical jerks (gentle jigging)
Can also be kept stationary under the boat if the school is holding position
Excellent in turbid water or at night, especially with fluorescent hooks

💡 Practical Tip:
Choose hooks size #6 to #10, ideal for medium-sized horse mackerel (200–400 g). Avoid hooks that are too small to reduce missed catches and accidental fish injuries.

 

2️⃣ 🎣 Light Bottom Fishing – The Versatile Boat Technique

Light bottom fishing is one of the most effective and enjoyable techniques for targeting horse mackerel from a boat, especially when they move between 15 and 50 meters deep. It is a static or semi-dynamic fishing method, also perfect for anglers aiming to catch multiple species beyond horse mackerel.

🔧 Recommended Rig:

Main line: nylon or fluorocarbon 0.28–0.35 mm, strong yet sensitive to feel light taps
Side branch lines: 2 or 3, 25–40 cm long, made of fluorocarbon 0.20–0.25 mm for greater invisibility in water
Hooks: small and light, size 10–14, beak type or short shank, ideal for small mouths and delicate strikes
Terminal sinker: 40–80 g, depending on current and depth

🧂 Recommended Baiting:

Use a mix of sardine, soaked bread, and breadcrumbs in a small cage above the sinker or released directly in the water
A small bait bag tied to the main line or a compact bait ball on the line also works well

🎯 When and Where to Use:

Mixed sandy or muddy bottoms, near drop-offs, shoals, or wrecks
Ideal at dawn, dusk, and nighttime, possibly with the aid of an underwater or floating light to attract schools

💡 Expert Tip:
Alternate natural baits like worms, shrimp, or sardine strips to increase rig effectiveness. A slow and steady retrieval helps prevent losing the fish.

 

3️⃣ ⚡ Ultra-Light Spinning – Dynamic and Fun Action

Ultra-light spinning is an exciting and highly productive technique for targeting horse mackerel, especially in harbors, along piers, and breakwater jetties where they gather to hunt small forage fish. Suitable for both beginners and light sport fishing enthusiasts, it offers lively fights and excellent sensitivity.

🎣 Recommended Equipment:

Rod: ultra-light or light spinning, 1.8–2.4 m, fast or extra-fast action, sensitive tip to feel light taps
Reel: size 1000–2500, lightweight and smooth
Line: braided PE 0.4–0.6 with a 0.18–0.22 mm fluorocarbon leader

🪝 Ideal Artificial Baits:

Mini metal jigs: 3–10 g, excellent in currents or to probe different depths
Softbaits (shad or worm): mounted on jig heads, 5–8 cm long
Mini poppers or floating stickbaits: for surface fishing in calm conditions
Micro spoons or small crankbaits: ideal for slow retrieval in colder waters

🎯 Retrieval Technique:

Quick jerks alternated with pauses to simulate the erratic swimming of a wounded small fish
Linear retrieves with speed variations, especially effective with large schools
When fish are sluggish, try near-bottom movements with long pauses

💡 Expert Tip:
During retrieval, keep the rod low and slightly angled toward the water to avoid losing the fish and improve bait control. Horse mackerel often strikes during the fall: always keep the line taut!

🌟 Ideal in summer and early autumn, when schools are active near the coast, attracted by small baitfish and warmer waters.

🍤 Natural Baits and Chumming – The Secret to Attracting Horse Mackerel

Horse mackerel, while being an opportunistic predator, shows a strong preference for natural baits rich in scent and movement. Pairing this with targeted chumming can turn a quiet fishing evening into an exciting session, especially at night.

🎯 Most Effective Natural Baits:

Sardine: thin fillets or cubes. Releases highly attractive oils, perfect for schooling predators.
Anchovy: fresh or lightly salted, ideal for wary fish.
Shelled shrimp: excellent for delicate rigs, highly appreciated in harbors.
Squid and cuttlefish: cut into soft, resilient strips, stay well on the hook even in strong currents.
Marine worms: such as lugworm, American or Korean worms, effective on larger horse mackerel or in tough conditions.

💡 Expert Tip: Alternate multiple types of bait on the same terminal to discover which one attracts the most at that moment.

🧂 Targeted Chumming:

Chumming serves to attract schools to the area and keep them under the fishing spot.

🔹 Effective Basic Recipe:

Crumbled dry bread
Chopped sardine or anchovy
Seawater for mixing (not freshwater, which can alter the scent)

🔹 Casting Techniques:

Cage feeder: mounted at the end of the line or on the trace, useful from boat or deep piers.
Hand chumming (spod): thrown little by little near the bait, ideal in the absence of strong currents.
Biodegradable bags: slowly release the chum on the bottom.

💡 Bonus: Night Lighting 🔦

Using underwater LED lamps or floating lights is a highly effective technique to attract plankton, small baitfish, and consequently horse mackerel. Position the light mid-water or just below the surface for maximum effect.

📌 Excellent strategy for night fishing from boat, piers, or illuminated breakwaters.

 

💡 Expert Technical Tips – How to Optimize Horse Mackerel Fishing

Fishing horse mackerel successfully requires attention to detail. Small technical tweaks can make the difference between a disappointing day and a memorable catch. Here are the key tips used by true field experts:

🎯 Use a fish finder or echo sounder on the boat

Essential for locating the depth layers where schools of horse mackerel often suspend mid-water.
Adjust the drop of the sinker or sabiki according to the signals detected.
Keep an eye on any aggregations of small baitfish or plankton, which often indicate the presence of predators.

🤫 Make smooth and silent drops

Horse mackerel are wary fish, easily disturbed by noise or sudden impacts.
Lowering the sinker slowly and with control prevents the school from scattering.
In dense schools, gently lowering the line increases the chances of multiple catches.

🪛 Keep hooks sharp at all times

Horse mackerel have small, delicate mouths: a dull hook leads to missed strikes or frequent unhooks.
Check and sharpen hooks regularly, especially when fishing over mixed or rocky bottoms.
Prefer chemically sharpened hooks for immediate penetration.

🎯 Targeted and continuous chumming

You don’t need massive chumming, but regular and localized. Too much bait can satiate or disperse the school.
Small doses every 5–10 minutes keep activity high in the area.
When fishing from a boat, place the chum mid-water where the horse mackerel are suspending, not just on the bottom.

🌀 Smooth and precisely adjusted drag

Horse mackerel fight with quick head shakes and bursts: too tight a drag risks pulling the hook or breaking the line.
Adjust the drag to maintain constant tension without forcing, especially with thin leaders.

📌 Extra tip: during the strike, avoid jerky pulls. A firm but smooth retrieve with the rod angled at 45° helps absorb lateral runs.

⚖️ Horse Mackerel Fishing Rules and Ethics

Sport fishing for horse mackerel, although often practiced by many enthusiasts, should always follow principles of responsibility and sustainability. Even if regulations for this species are not always uniform, here are good practices and limits to follow for ethical and conscious fishing:

📏 Recommended minimum size: 15 cm

Even if not always officially regulated, it is good practice to respect this threshold.
Horse mackerel under 15 cm are generally young individuals that have not yet reproduced. Releasing them helps preserve the balance of the marine population.

🎣 Catch limit: maximum 5 kg per person per day

In many coastal areas of Italy and the Mediterranean, this limit is established by local ordinances for recreational fishing.
It is always advisable to check the current regulations in the area where you plan to fish (Harbor Authority or Regional Office).

🔁 Release fish you do not intend to consume

Sport fishing should never turn into unnecessary accumulation or waste.
If you do not plan to eat them, or if the fish is small or in poor condition, release it gently back into the sea.

🌊 Respect for the marine environment

Do not abandon lines, hooks, plastics, or bait in the water: they are harmful to marine life and the coastal ecosystem.
Use bags or containers to collect your waste and leave the fishing spot better than you found it.
Avoid excessive chumming in enclosed environments (ports or lagoons) to prevent imbalances in the water.

🧠 Ethics before the catch

Remember that true satisfaction is not only in the number of fish caught, but in respect for the sea, the species, and fellow anglers.
Sustainable fishing ensures that future generations can enjoy the same experiences.

❄️ Horse Mackerel Preservation: Freshness and Quality Guaranteed

Horse mackerel is a fish with delicate and flavorful flesh, but to maintain its organoleptic properties intact, it is essential to follow some simple yet important preservation rules from the moment of capture.

🧼 Immediate Cleaning

As soon as it is caught, it is advisable to:

Gut it immediately to prevent internal deterioration and reduce bacterial load.
Rinse it with seawater (not fresh water), which respects its natural environment and does not alter the texture of the flesh.

👉 Timely cleaning prevents bad odors and preserves the quality of the flesh.

🧊 Cold Storage

To keep it fresh until you return home:

Place it in a cooler bag with plenty of ice or eutectic plates.
Keep it isolated from the ice melt water (using a grid or draining bag) to avoid soaking and loss of firmness.

💡 Tip: alternate layers of ice and fish for even cooling.

❄️ Freezing

If you do not consume it immediately:

It can be frozen, whole or preferably filleted, for practical use in the kitchen.
Rapid freezing at -18°C is recommended, especially if you intend to eat it raw (e.g., in carpaccio or marinades).
Freezer storage: 2–3 months to maintain optimal taste and firmness.

⚠️ Avoid freezing fish that are not perfectly fresh: freezing does not improve quality, and late crystallization can further compromise it.

🍽️ In the Kitchen: How to Best Enjoy Horse Mackerel

Horse mackerel is a blue fish with flavorful and firm flesh, rich in Omega-3, high-quality proteins, and minerals. Although often considered a “poor” fish, if cooked properly it can deliver surprising dishes, typical of Italian maritime tradition.

👨🍳 Recommended Traditional Recipes

🔥 Raw Marinated Horse Mackerel
After rapid chilling, fillet the fish and marinate it with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, EVO oil, ginger, and fennel. Perfect for a fresh and refined appetizer.

🍋 Grilled with Lemon and Rosemary
Whole or filleted, ideal for quick cooking on a griddle. Brush with oil, sprinkle with fresh rosemary, and grill for 2–3 minutes per side.

🧄 Crispy Fried with Semolina
Coat fillets (or a cleaned whole fish) in remilled semolina and fry in hot oil. Excellent with a squeeze of lemon.

🍅 Baked in Foil or Parchment
Cook with cherry tomatoes, Taggiasca olives, capers, and garlic, wrapped in parchment or aluminum. Bake at 180°C for 15–20 minutes.

🍷 Stewed Ligurian or Neapolitan Style
Sauté red onion and garlic, add horse mackerel portions, deglaze with white wine or vinegar, add cherry tomatoes and black olives. Simmer for a rustic and tasty main course.

💡 Chef’s Tip

To reduce the metallic taste typical of blood, place the fillets in ice water for 15–20 minutes before cooking.
This simple step enhances delicacy and improves the final texture.

 

🌊 The Charm of Horse Mackerel Fishing: An Adventure to Experience

Fishing for horse mackerel represents one of the most rewarding and accessible experiences for those who love the sea and sport fishing in the Mediterranean. Thanks to its abundance, schooling behavior, and fighting spirit, horse mackerel is perfect for both beginners and experienced anglers seeking a fun challenge.

🎯 Why Choose Horse Mackerel?

Simple yet technical fishing techniques, ideal for learning
Fish with a distinctive flavor and rich in nutritional properties
Opportunity to go out by boat or fish from the rocks using light tackle

🌿 Respect and Awareness
Always remember to practice sustainable fishing, respecting sizes, catch limits, and the marine environment, to preserve this natural resource for future generations.

🌟 With passion, attention, and a few expert tips, every horse mackerel fishing trip can turn into a moment of pure enjoyment a genuine encounter with the sea, nature, and tradition.