Mackerel on the inside water

[Northdogboy]

Hi I live in Nanaimo and I was Wondering do we get mackerel on the inside? and if so where?
Id like to try some for bait or to eat, and would not mind looking for them.

 

[Dogbreath]

The closest I ever heard of was in Campbell River some hillbilly thought it was a Tuna!

Anyway 'Scomber Japonicus' isn't much good to eat-soft grey strong tasting flesh Prawns & Crab sure like them though step on the carcass first before loading it into the trap.

 

[agentaqua]

...'Scomber Japonicus' isn't much good to eat-soft grey strong tasting flesh Prawns & Crab sure like them though step on the carcass first before loading it into the trap.

Depends on your palette. I like it - although it is oily. Best BBQd to get rid of some of the oil...

 

[spring fever]

Smoked is excellent especially with Cracked black pepper encrusted!!

 

[Seafever]

If you do get Mackerel some place, they need to be gutted and put on ice right away. We caught a bunch one time in the Alberni Inlet and just put them in the cool locker. There was ice in it but I guess not enough.
We cooked them up quite awhile later and they were awful. The meat had gone all pasty and they tasted weird. I had one piece on a fork and that was it. Rest went in garbage.

Lots on the west coast certain years when the water is warm. Never seen any on the east island side yet.

 

[nedarb2]

I've caught them and seen boiling schools around Gabriola/ Ruxton. That was about 10yrs ago

 

[halimark]

Been some years since we caught any. Good thing, hate to say it but I do hope you cant find any because they are not there. Usually means strong El Nino and no salmon 3-4 years later. Bad for normal BC fishing.

HM

 

[nicnat]

we've caught them off the fraser quite a few years ago during strong el nino years, it was probably in the early to mid 90's when I was fishing sockeye, not a ton of them but most were hooking into the odd one. it's definitely been a while but they have been here