Mackerel| Fish Species Guide | Angling Direct

Mackerel

Mackerel

aka Scomber scombrus

Closely related to tuna, the mackerel fish are slim and sleek and have a blue/green back with dozens of black bars running down the flanks and a silver belly. Mackeral prefer to live in warmer Irish and British waters in the spring but migrate to colder waters around Europe for spawning. This fish prefers to live in areas with easy access to deep water such as piers, harbours and jetties. It boasts short fins, a highly forked tail and a ridge of finlets running from the last dorsal fin to the tail.

FactMackerel don't have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy. This means they always have to keep swimming, otherwise they'll simply sink to the bottom.

Stats

Habitat

Habitat

Often found near structures such as piers or rocks in deep water.

Bait

Bait

Small sandeel, sprat, ragworm or strip of squid.

Fishing Tackle

Fishing Tackle

Native or Invasive

Native or Invasive

Native

Where

Where

Northeast Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and the Canaries, and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Catch Experience Catch Experience

Fishing for mackerel is the perfect way to get anyone interested in angling, especially little ones or those with short attention spans. Mackerel is either a win or lose with casting in the shoal will certainly land you fish after fish. With light fishing tackle, it puts up a surprising fight, making it one of the easiest and most exciting fish to catch. You will find mackerel around many coastlines during the summer months when water temperatures are at their highest and there's a greater abundance of food items for them to eat. Many anglers will keep mackeral to serve as bait when targeting larger fish both in freshwater and for sea fishing species. Despite the urban myths, mackerel which have been handled can continue to live and hunt and although they are an easy catch, are great to eat or use as fish bait, remember that the minimum size to retain mackerel is 30cm and to only fish what you need.

Video

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