Atlantic Mackerel
Like other members of the Scombridae family, the Atlantic mackerel is a fast-swimming, schooling, pelagic species that garners both significant recreational and commercial interest. It is known as a feast-or-famine fish; sometimes it is almost completely absent, and at other times it is plentiful in swarming schools. A delicious fish with an abundance of protein, vitamins, and minerals, it has a pleasing oil content. The flesh is firm-textured with a distinctive, savory flavor. Mackerel are available in markets whole or filleted, usually fresh but sometimes frozen, and smoked or salted.
Identification — Atlantic mackerel have smooth, tapering heads, streamlined bodies, and brilliant coloration. An iridescent greenish blue covers most of the upper body, turning to blue black on the head and silvery white on the belly. These brilliant colors fade somewhat after capture but still distinguish these fish. The skin is satiny and has small, smooth scales. The tail is forked. Another distinguishing characteristic is the series of 23 to 33 wavy, dark bands on the upper part of the body, extending to a moderately prominent lateral line. There are two fins on the back, one spiny and one soft, followed by a number of small finlets. There are also finlets present on the under surface of the body near the tail.
Size/Age — The average length for adult Atlantic mackerel is 14 to 18 inches, and the average weight is 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 pounds. The maximum observed size in recent years has been about 18 1/2 inches and weighing about 3 pounds. The all-tackle world record is a 2-pound, 10-ounce fish caught in Norway. The maximum age is roughly 20 years.
Distribution — Occurring in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic mackerel ranges from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in the eastern region; and from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean and Black Seas in the western Atlantic.
Habitat — The Atlantic mackerel is pelagic, preferring cool, well-oxygenated open-ocean waters.
Life history/Behavior — Atlantic mackerel native to the western Atlantic coast comprise two populations rather than one vast, homogeneous stock as once supposed. The southern population appears offshore in early April, advancing toward Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey to later spawn off the coast of New Jersey and Long Island. In late May, the northern group enters southern New England waters for a short period and mingles with the southern stock. The northern population soon moves north again to spawn off the coast of Nova Scotia and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in June and July. These spring movements are probably triggered by water temperatures, and they generally provide the most angling opportunity and result in the greatest harvest.
As autumn approaches, fish that summer along the Maine coast begin to migrate southward toward Cape Cod and, after October, disappear off Block Island. The northern population returns through the Gulf of Maine in November or early December and vanishes off Cape Cod. Both groups winter between Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia and Cape Cod in waters generally warmer than 7°C. This annual disappearance, sometimes overnight, has puzzled people for years, and over the years it has given rise to many far-fetched stories.
Atlantic mackerel are moderately prolific, but many factors affect survival of the young. The eggs are released wherever the fish happen to be, leaving adverse winds to push eggs or small fry into areas where their chances of survival are slight. This behavior, combined with predation of large as well as young mackerel, results in a curious pattern of either superabundance or scarcity.
Food and feeding habits — The diet of Atlantic mackerel consists of fish eggs and a variety of small fish and fry.
Angling — Finding mackerel is the necessary element in catching them. Anglers typically locate the fish on sonar equipment or by observing slicks on the surface; when this fails, private boats follow charter and party boats (which do a brisk business in mackerel fishing when this species is available), and otherwise look for clusters of boat activity. Most fishing occurs in near-shore environs or in large bays.
A good deal of mackerel fishing is done with a rig that consists of several small tube lures attached at 1-foot intervals to a main leader and weighted with a heavy (3- or 4-ounce) diamond jig. Because mackerel are midwater fish, it's important to present the baits at the right level. Most anglers find this level by dropping their rig to the bottom, then slowly working it back up in increments, pausing and jigging as they do this. Once they catch fish, they return their rig to the same level. When the fish are not too deep, jigs and flies are also effective, and sometimes chum is used to attract and hold the fish near the boat.