Mackerel Munchies
 

So, with all of the pictures and posts of the mackerel being caught and the thrill on the faces of the fishermen who caught them, what do they do with them? The macks appear to be chum mackerel and given the delicate texture of their flesh, I can't imagine what condition they must be in after spending hours in a cooler with little or no ice. Why keep them except for a photo op?

Does anyone have a recipe for chum macks that can make keeping them worthwhile? I hate to see fish being kept, then discarded and wasted only so someone can have a keepsake picture of their fishing experience. I understand the concept of people enjoying a day on the water and the need to put customers at the rail, but unless there is a good reason to take the macks home, throw them back.

Macks are usually used as hook baits for bigger fish. Strips from them are good fluke bait when they are fairly fresh. I just don't know about them as good tablefare. It might be a good fishing community service to post some suggestions for the care and preparation of the mackerel that are currently being caught.

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

They seem pretty similar to boston mackerel. People seem to like the top loins as sashimi. I'd also imagine that they would be fine smoked.

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

I've known people who eat Boston mackerel typically caught in cold water who love them as table fare. Never tried one so can't speak from experience.

Difference with the ones that flood our area in the summer which I believe are chub mackerel is they inhabit warm water and there flesh is mushier. Never ate one or know anyone who has so can't speak for their culinary value but I'd be surprised if they win anyone a Michelin Star!

What I will say for any sharkers or tuna guys, if you catch any use a bridle rig and live line them. Have caught them on sabiki rigs inshore and at the canyons. Threshers, big eyes, yellow fins love them. You can put them under a float or balloon for threshers or drop them down with an egg sinker or slow troll with a trolling weight for tuna. They're a hearty bait fish, you'd be amazed how long they stay alive.

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

Yes, chub mackerel and not chum. ( Spell check has a mind of its own.) You confirmed my point about their food value. Unless you are keeping them for bait, why keep them at all?

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

I'm sure they're edible, question is what would they taste like especially ones not iced and bled properly. People eat false albacore which have always been the butt end of the joke "place on a cedar board, season, bake at 375 for 45 minutes, remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes, throw the false albacore away and eat the cedar board"!

People eat carp, sea urchins, caviar, ocean pout etc. so who knows. As a rule of thumb, anything that is used as bait or made into chum wouldn't be on my dinner menu but to each their own. Maybe people do eat them but aren't around long enough afterwards to let anyone know how they taste!

Bill I agree if people are catching them and just throwing them in the garbage, that's a waste with any fish other than maybe the endangered dog fish!

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

Last time I saw a Chub Mackerel it was on the end of an Owner 6/0 Lazer Point being dropped down for Yellowfin Tuna.:D

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

Most of the boats that go fishing for them just call them mackerel. I think most of the people on these boats are just happy to catch anything! They are not Boston mackerel which are oily but decent to eat. It's just a reflection on the state of the fishery! Anything that can be caught will be caught! I thought the same thing when I first started seeing boats targeting chub mackerel I was like "What the heck" ?? tight lines!

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...7L._SY879_.jpg




Tastes like chicken.....

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

We used to catch tons of Boston mackerel here in the winter in January and February but that was before global warming 😃

Re: Mackerel Munchies
 

Canned mackerel seemed to be standard fare for the Vietnamese (south) Army when I was there in '65. It had a very distinct aroma.