HOW TO | Catching Mackerel With Helium Balloons

Bit of a how to on a method commonly used off the cliffs here in Western Australia using helium and large balloons to catch Mackerel and Tuna off the rocks.
Tackle and equipment used in this video,
90cm Latex Balloons, light 20lb mono leader to swivel from main line and balloon.
Wire rig made up of 10/0 BKK Octopus Beak hooks with a 3/0 RaptorZ Treble on the end in 150lb 49 strand stainless wire with a 150mm squid skirt, whole garfish as bait ghost cotton used to hold onto hooks.
10m long 100lb mono leader onto 850m of 50LB J Braid grand spooled on my Daiwa Australia Dogfight 8000H reel. Rod is a Ripple Fisher Runner Exceed Final Stand Up factory custom model.
daiwafishing.com.au/collectio...
daiwafishing.com.au/collectio...
ripplefisher.com/product/shor...
www.bkkhooks.com.au
Any other bits I've missed chuck a comment and i'll try to answer any questions you have.

[@vincedumitru1465]

If anyone wishes to visit this spot then they should take a fishing partner. Many people have died and hundreds have gone for a swim including me. Not for just anyone guys its hard work and very risky in big swell. 2 months ago i was up there 3 guys lost all their gear off high rock 3am. A freak wave soaked them head to toe. 2 days later a father fishing solo was washed off and never found. 3 close calls for others who went fishing early morning. Stay safe guys and please dont litter. It's a wonderful spot but just respect it for the rest.

[@chrisferrett4586]

With you on that, fished alone up there in dec looking to go up again but have no fishing buddy If you fancy going up in march?

[@popsfishing]

This is why I don't do cliffs! Respect bro that was awesome!

[@brendenjames3958]

Solid macky mate! TIGHT LINES & TAKE IT EASY 🌏🏝🌅🛥🤙🏼

[@markspalding6092]

What an effort! Brilliant video mate! Trying to gaff that 1st fish was nerve racking, bloody unlucky. So hard trying to gaff big fish on your own off the rocks! Keep up the great job mate & please stay safe

[@paultaylor3926]

Awesome mate, easily my favourite form of bait fishing, can’t beat seeing them launch after the bait 👍🎣🎈

[@milesabove5259]

I haven’t done land based for years, but this was really exciting to watch and how dangerous it is. That high end gear is really worth it doing what you do, with the effort of the baits and balloons. That almost makes me feel bad fishing from a boat. Great work mate! Makes you appreciate the old guys stories that fished the same spots years ago without the technology of today.

[@BadBoy-so2pq]

1st time see helium balloon fishing.............cool method

[@brucerowland9989]

Unlucky loss on the spin, cool to see the process of rigging up a helium balloon set up and sending it out 🤙🎣 cool catch for a solo trip.

[@ferminponce9758]

Hahaha I love this channel because I learn so many new methods to catch fish. I usually fish with sliders and catch huge Spanish and kings. Im definitely going to try this out next time I go out.

[@mariocondello2282]

King Waves Kill is an epic name for a fishing spot.

[@andrewwoodley-page4117]

Great stuff, you earned that fish! I went quite a few times in the 90's and loved it. Magic coastline

[@stewartgilliana6223]

Great job mate, good spot for fishing, waiting for your next video,

[@syedmehdi47]

Wicked session mate ✌🏻 totally loved watching

[@damienzilm1617]

I think I found one of your rigs up there last weekend. So beautifully crafted! So pleased that I now know how to rig up to do this. Awesome video

[@DixonsFishing]

Hey I very much doubt it would of been one of my own rigs as I always make sure I leave no rubbish behind where I fish. Fair few people make rigs the same as I do though.

[@greatwhitesfishingadventur2273]

Crazy Sick Effort !! Glad you Finally got a Mackerel !!! Plenty of Feeds from that one fish !!! Well Done !!!

[@DixonsFishing]

thanks and yes plenty of feeds from the one fish

[@takeadeepbreath6053]

You Dixon Brothers are the best! Love your content and always amazed at what you guys do to find fish. Thanks and please stay safe. My dream is to one day come fish with you!!!

[@DixonsFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@Outbound]

Love that spot, CR 👍

[@muzaffer-alilone7243]

Nice fight and well done finally... The one you lost was a experience and the another in hand.. While i do the same way but my experience is, I keep my drag little loose when fish below you because as you know waves smashing hard.. We have to understand the force of pressure. That way we can play with waves and keep fish floating with waves... I have also loss before but not now.. Have a great time ahead and wish you safe fishing 🤗

[@johnarrones5396]

Awesome video!🎣👍

[@clydem7899]

Yah Brother!! Lots of hard work right there!! Good job! Bigbig congrats!! Aloha!🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@FerdzPerrera]

Nice method of fishing bro amazing. Thank you for sharing.Good catch king fish mackerel but lost. Congratulations

[@dhiquobgnaloo]

Big effort mate was just up there at quobba also by myself had trouble getting 8kg tuna and about the same size queenie up the cliffs by myself hard to use a cliff gaff on your own luckily you were on a lower ledge near camp rock helps if your down close to the water like you were well done.

[@wabreamanglers]

Unlucky with the one on spin mate. Awesome to get one !

[@adamfreeman5609]

Looks like a good time, was wondering what sort of knots hold the hooks on, been fishing for years but never tried for Mac's and would live to give it a go

[@coreyfearing7854]

Love this. I’m gonna try balloon fishing maybe today. It’s all depending which way the wind is blowing and what not so we’ll see. I live on Oahu Hawaii.

[@DownSouthWaterRats]

Great vid 👍

[@abz9304]

Bro honestly speaking here your channel is the best on youtube love your vids man. Mad fish by the way last one on my trophy list lol

[@DixonsFishing]

Thanks! Appreciate it

[@antonioradulescu1724]

Best rig ever i swer guy really good explained i hope i can fish ona day with you together guys

[@chrisferrett4586]

Well done mate even to set up a gopro with all the other stuff to worry about gets you kudos. just got back from there and fished alone, mind you that spot did look better to land fish than where I was, Got a mac tuna and spangled , but no Mac. Home a week and plan to go back asap . Fishing alone does make it harder though.

[@andrewkingham9947]

(To Stuart)... the first time I fished it there was still a wreck there !

[@carlocuppone8303]

Bravissimo, not easy at all,,,, thank you

[@vincedumitru1465]

Nice rock. I fell in off there spent 2 hours in 5m swells. Tug boat picked us up. That place really is paradise on earth. The ranking cod there are huge. Use live wrass you will get them.

[@DixonsFishing]

Bloody hell thats full on! Glad you made it out. This day was 2.2m and was the biggest I would of fished solo. The next day swell rose and I wasn’t confident to fish there again

[@mickymouse3491]

Spanish mackerel is my favourite to eat also 👍. You got some nice reels there mate, a cheap real would not last very long against those huge fish you catch. I got a daiwa dogfight like yourself, it kills me when they get scratched on the rocks when the excitement of landing a fish sets in, wish there was something on the market like a removable rubber cover to protect a reel worth $$$ whilst fishing from rocks. guess you just got to live with it. Good luck mate. Great videos 👍👍.

[@romanomorelli2831]

robert jones try to make some type of neoprene glove to protect your expensive reel

[@wittyfpv]

Awesome video mate!! I shall be going to spotlight and getting myself a helium tank and some 90cm balloons after watching this video. I have the perfect spot 800m from my house to give that method a go

[@DixonsFishing]

If you wait a week or 2 I have a super detailed video of how to do this coming up that goes through how to set it all up perfectly.

[@wittyfpv]

@@DixonsFishing awesome! i picked up all the bits. i have to take some pvc and a bag of cement to the spot and put a couple rod holders in before i give it a go so by that time ur video will be out

[@cjpaglinawan9739]

Perfect spot too do some trash bag fishing. You should check it out. That’s how we fish in Hawaii

[@Cheezy-cx6xs]

Hey mate wondering if the mackerel are still on around quobba during October November if not what species are on offer and how’s the weather swell etc around that time.

[@DixonsFishing]

hi mate yeah they are there all year, swell can be a problem and winds aren't any good for ballooning but still fish to be found

[@bonikaston7032]

Exciting

[@travisradoccia5262]

How do you snell the hooks using wire? Or have you just found a particular brand of wire easier to do so?

[@DixonsFishing]

The way i tie a snell lets me do this fairly easily and using 49 strand wire which is hard to kink and easy to work with also helps

[@redouanepeche]

Thanks my fisherman friend

[@FieldDays]

so good legend.. what size you running for your spinning gear? epic video....

[@DixonsFishing]

Cheers man! It’s a dogfight 8000H with 50lb J braid grand on it

[@FieldDays]

I mean that 2020 saltiga brother what size is that? Looking at one now had to choose what size haha

[@DixonsFishing]

oh my bad haha, i read your comment wrong. its the 14000XH with pe6 saltiga 12 braid in the video but i have just ordered a 10000H to put 50lb braid onto for spinning as its a little lighter to use all day for this kind of casting

[@FieldDays]

Cheers brother that’s what I’m looking at as well 10000 sounds like a little dream boat

[@DixonsFishing]

Field Days yeah perfect little size for spinning 50lb

[@blokefromthebush]

Unique way of skinning

[@DixonsFishing]

works well with mackerel and their soft skin i find. gets the job done in the end anyway

[@riverthecat]

Great vid..l have been catching mackerel in Dublin for the last few summers...never saw one half the size as that...are they a different species of the ones we have in lreland..? Or am l simply catching juveniles...?

[@DixonsFishing]

i think these would be different, this species is also known as king mackerel in other parts of the world and can grow to over 40kg so this is a fairly small one.

[@riverthecat]

@@DixonsFishing ok thanks..we find them along the Irish coastline in shoals..very tasty...but you have to eat them fresh..not great to freeze..l wonder what those big ones taste like..?

[@chriskim7642]

hey mate, do you know how many meter you can spool 50lb pe4 tasline on saltiga 14000xh?

[@ProgressiveGarments]

So is the baloon running on that swivel and there is no stop above it? Just using the line pressure from the rod and reel

[@ProgressiveGarments]

Got it now i have watched it all Thankyou for the vid will help me on my next trip to steep point

[@davidhalkyard2680]

Hey bro, can you list the mainline and lure you used to hook that first macky. Cheers bro

[@DixonsFishing]

The fish on spin was hooked on saltiga 14000xH, Yamaga blue sniper 106H, pe6 saltiga 12 braid to 80lb shock leader with single strand wire and busted fishing old school 85g metal and 2/0 BKK raptorZ treble.

[@rabbitskinner]

So no stopper knot on the balloon? Good video mate .Well done hard work on your own...

[@DixonsFishing]

stopper knot? the balloon it tie to the end of the lighter leader line. it can freely move up and down the main line but the wind keeps it on the bait. having it free sliding lets the balloon come up and out of the way when landing a fish at the cliffs and also letting line out to create the V for sending a bait.

[@qwerty100294]

Awesome vid! What were U spinning? What rod and lure?

[@DixonsFishing]

setup is Yamaga Blanks Blue Sniper 106H with Saltiga 14k XH, lure is a busted fishing old school 85 metal with a 2/0 BKK Raptorz treble.

[@hilshobby4147]

Awesome

[@raffuja7321]

Would it be possible to see how you make them Mackie rigs? Or do you buy them ready ? Cheers

[@DixonsFishing]

I make them. These is a how to ballooning videos with a big balloon in the thumbnail which describes my rigs and how I make them

[@boogzyboogzy6151]

Garths is nice spot but been cleaning up at the caves

[@sharkyshepo8167]

Top vid mate, how far is this from Red bluff? I live east coast but surfed n fished red bluff for 3 weeks, top spot. Yeeeeeew

[@DixonsFishing]

Same sort of area as red bluff yeah. Magic part of the world that’s for sure

[@benporter964]

Nice work bro good catch solo fishing thats keen as not for me to many boys in grey down there for swim swim can you tell me where you are I've done fishing off steep piont just like that fun times good fish sail fish v shark on KZbin that's me cheers keep safe bro 🤘

[@sergiobellomachado3170]

Porfavor podría hacer el aparejo desde 0 para poder realizar tu método de pesca. Muchas gracias muy buenos videos 🐠🐠🎣🎣🎣

[@antonioradulescu1724]

You should make a video how you did the rig more specifically

[@DixonsFishing]

I’ve been trying to film a proper run down video of this since I did this one but haven’t had the weather or fish on my trips. People regularly catch tuna, sailfish, mackerel, cobia and more with this method

[@hootertexas9711]

Insane. I was worried for you lol.

[@Fwr942]

Anytime I start to think that I am a hardcore fisherman, I watch this guy and realise I'm a friggin pansy. Drive 10 hrs to fish on the coast with ballkons???? Nope, not gonna do it.

[@antonioradulescu1724]

Can I catch also tuna with that method?

[@joshuajeronimourquiza5816]

Where is that spot?

[@antonioradulescu1724]

Your reel have 850 M line ?????

[@DixonsFishing]

yeah it does, 50lb line with a 100lb mono leader. need a lot of line if sending baits out 3-500m from the rocks

[@antonioradulescu1724]

Woow that daiwa dogfight 8000H can spool 850m line ? I can't believe that

[@antonioradulescu1724]

Your rig is also good for tuna right?

[@DixonsFishing]

yeah will work for tuna, they normally like the bait not moving as fast as mackerel do

[@antonioradulescu1724]

@@DixonsFishing when can we meet and fishing together? I wanna learn how to fishing in saltwater and i think you're the one who can explain better , the equipment is not a problem I have everything

[@drewb4535]

a buddy would have come in handy

[@user-fu3dm3zn5v]

請問可以教導如何活餌氣球放流教學嗎？

[@timbryant.crypto7635]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@kenyan854]

Fucking cool!!!!

[@user-wn9tt1le5x]

Is hard to land big fish only 2 hands

[@ImpactZoneSpearfishing]

Snap the bill off the garfish, otherwise it moves funny through the water.

[@DixonsFishing]

The bait is never under the water, never heard of it seen the bills being snapped off for this type of fishing?

[@ImpactZoneSpearfishing]

Dixon Brothers Fishing, On a day without as heavy winds you can get a trawling effect instead of a skipping effect, so if there’s a lul in the wind etc. it can be beneficial to snap the bills for smoother swimming. Just my 2c 🤙 good fish mate, spewing on the first big one

[@DixonsFishing]

Fair enough. Mostly I use pike, tailor or mullet for bait as garfish are usually very expensive. Yeah spewing, was a solid fish but being solo and tired I messed that up and only have myself to blame for that one.

[@vadimroud2427]

C

[@righteousfishing3163]

Pretty cool man Dope video bro nice footage hope you can check out my latest vid aswell

[@noeldenney7782]

Great effort...but risking your life for a fish...dunno

[@bowrabowra1399]

Why name the spot or make a point of revealing its location ? Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy.....applies to blowing out fishing spots on the internet. The you tubers who aren’t clowns take care to ensure they aren’t taking a dump on the places they visit. Youngblood’s and Gido have the integrity and decency to not draw attention to places such as this. 10 hours from your home....show some respect to the area. It’s not yours to sell.

[@DixonsFishing]

I’ve listed an 80km long piece of coastline not the exact spot I fished? Unless you have a good idea where I am in this video that isn’t a secret by any means I’ve highlighted an area that’s pretty large. If you watch a lot of our videos we rarely give exact locations but a rough area. I’ve listed an area as large as YBS does when he says exmouth or gido when he says Albany so I don’t see the issue?

[@chrisferrett1455]

@@DixonsFishing Yea I argee , everyone who fishes and is keen knows steep point quobba are primo spots to go , but with work and commitments its not easy to get to , so no issue, I watch gido also and that coast line is a treck , not a park your car next to spot and fish area. keeps it for the dedicated.