Nor do you need to waste time with anything but a fast, jerking retrieve. The only thing likely to happen if you slow your retrieve is you catch more ladyfish, but you won't miss any mackerel. Another good spot for boats that can roam offshore is Ochlockonee Shoals, which is about seven nautical miles out of the mouth of the Ochlockonee River. Farther west, mackerel anglers typically troll in the deeper water along the outside of the Dog Island Reef. The Spanish are attracted to the currents and the baitfish which typically hang around both ends of Dog Island.
Boaters can avoid the crowds and troll or drift the slightly deeper water just off the point.
Last march the mackerel were thick off East End by the first week of the month and the fishing just kept getting better. Bob Sikes Cut through St. George's midsection is another reliable mackerel magnet when they first arrive in the area. They love to feed in the clashing currents just outside the jetties and inside the Cut where diving gulls often give away their location. So, pick your spot, tie on a good, thick leader and a cheap lure and hang on for some good, springtime fun. There's also a good chance you'll be able to fire up the grill early this year.