[bulletbob]

You can catch mackerel on any tackle.. A rental rod is fine, but even a fairly solid freshwater rod will catch them without issues, if you don't mind catching 1 or 2 at a time... A boat rod will allow you to drop a jig with 3 teasers above it, and yes you can catch 3 or 4 at a time with no problem, IF they are around, which is not usually the case these days...
Plain old Mr Twisters are fine as teasers, and will get hit readily.. Personally I like plain old mackerel rigs with small pieces of stiff surgical tubing on the hooks as they are tough as nails.. Any salt water tackle store should have them. i would use a 4 oz. AVA jig as weight below the rig..

All you do is drop it down, and you can jig it in place, reel it, or even leave it right in the zone without moving it, and they will be all over it... IF they are there!.. Thats the issue these days.. Not tackle, not boats, not pressure, etc.. the fish just aren't there any more, at least not in any numbers.
However, if anyone can find them, the Bogan fleet certainly can.. good luck, let us know how you make out... bob