[beamie]

This is one thread that I can consider myself an expert. At least the catching part. I fill my feezers every May and then sell some to the local shop. I fish off Marshfield,Scituate Cohasset.

There is not funner fishing than a maceral massecre especially when you have the young kids with you, constant action for them.

Of course this year I'm working so my best freind gets to fill my freezer for me fall fishin. Thanks.

Those Sabiki's mentioned earlier are great for the tinkers but won't last long if your into the honkin size macs.

What to use:

Make your own rigs. Either 4 or 3 hooks plus the jig at the bottom. Use 2/o or 3/o Mustad Limerick hooks. Get some small colored vinyl 3/16". I like white, green, flo red, yellow and black.
Make the whole rig about 4 feet long with about 10 to 12" between hooks. Now for the diamond jig at the bottom. I use either a 3 oz or 6 oz mold from Do-it. 6oz for the windy days. But lately have been using the 6's more. They seem to get down quicker and hook more fish. Many people think this is too big, but hey really it isn't.

As for the line. I have tried using braid and it works but if you get a tangle your scre#$@d. Dropper loop method so you can loose 1 hook and not the whole rig.

If the macs are spotty and finikey we use 20# mono. On those massacre days we up it to 30 or 40... the rigs last longer. But believe me one this one. Go with the lighter line when they are spotty. On more than one occasion I have asked boats next to me how they did. "we got 20" ... while I had a couple totes. They were using to store bought heavy duty rigs. It also helps to do a little chumming next to the boat to hold the fish in one spot.

I use at least 350# of macs a year and it saves you alot. You can buy a 10cu ft freezer at Home Depot for 125 bucks. You'll make that back the first year.

And don't be afraid to go live lining with the big,big macs. The big bass love em. Don't tell anyone. Hell even bass just a few inches bigger then the mac will at least try to eat it.

Now you got me all pumped up to fish.

I don't do anything special like brine to freeze. The only important tip for freezing you have to do is not freeze too many in the same frezer at one time. Because it will take days for the ones in the middle to freeze. The bellies will fall apart on you later. Hint...put a layer of mac bags, then a couple layers of corrugated cardboard, this helps with air circulation in the freezer...freezing quiker.

Mike the FISHINGFREAK had some good tips on brining not too long ago. Do a search.

That's about it, my fingering are burning up. Hope this helps.

Jon