Keeping mackerel

[bigfen]

Is it worth throwing mackerel back,as I have heard that they die anyway after being caught and handled,so reports of people catching 300 plus and returning the majority of them are in effect returning fish to die.Anyone got any answers?

[BAZACODBASHA]

If you don't want to keep them, maybe handle them with a wet rag soaked in sea water. Don't know if this would help 100%, but I have read that their skin is extremely delicate.

[big phil 123]

Or shake them off or just catch what you need and go

[stevie-r-@hotmail.co.uk]

Been a few debates on this subject, at the end of the day wtf do you do
with 300 mack.

[Orange Shad]

Keeping Mackerel

Hi Guys
You are correct in thinking that Mackerel suffer a horrible death if handled by our naked hands.
The reaction between our skin and theirs basically melts away their skin.
I only fish for what I need then stop fishing for them altogether.
I'm not sure whether using a barrier to handle them works or not, but its better than nothing at all.
Barbless hooks are an alternative if you don't want to keep them and more easily shaken off without touching them.

[Joe-m]

Shake them off with long nose pliers without touching them they did a test with some in a tank if you damage their protective slime they die within a short period of time ( so they say ) I have caught a couple of dull scabby ones in the boat before possibly been touched ?

[Juliogeordio]

Old wives tail? I certainly think so.... I have never seen any evidence to suggest that they will die if handled... its true that most fish gain benefit from being handled with a wet hand or similar as to not damage their protective coats over the scales.... for that reason I try and shake them loose anyway.. as already mentioned, this subject always kicks off the same old debate! One things for sure, leaving them flapping around the pier like a daft chav will defo kill them.

[lambengland]

Old wives tail? I certainly think so.... I have never seen any evidence to suggest that they will die if handled...

Countless amounts of scientific reports and studies on this saying that they die..

[Joe-m]

http://www.southwestseafishing.co.uk/anglers-guide-to-handling-fish/

[Juliogeordio]

If you look hard enough you can find evidence of monsters living on mars

All Im saying is I have never seen evidence but I would always shake them free anyway as a fish that hasn't been handled has always a better chance to make a clean swim away....

[Juliogeordio]

This topic was apparently raised with the Sea Angling Conservation Society and the evidence to mackerel being handled and dieing came from fish caught in seine and trawl nets... they found that when packed tight together the mackerel rubbed and caused damage to each others skins which caused a breakdown in the protective layer of the skin and eventual fish death.... the assumption is that if handled by anglers in the same way then the same break down will happen although not proven it probally makes good sense that it would happen and so advice is to stop fishing once you catch enough or change fishing methods to minimise chances....

[Joe-m]

As I said I have caught some very sick looking ones this is a Quote from the above link and you don't have to go to Mars to see monsters

Quote feel that in this part the mackerel should have its own mention here, the long and short of it is that the heat and oils from our hands damage their skin which in turn causes them to die from between 3 to 48 hours afterwards.* I have done some research on this and have found many references on websites which have been confirmed by CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science).

[beachbuddy]

Been a few debates on this subject, at the end of the day wtf do you do
with 300 mack.

Must be using a longline

[safc]

If you look hard enough you can find evidence of monsters living on mars

All Im saying is I have never seen evidence but I would always shake them free anyway as a fish that hasn't been handled has always a better chance to make a clean swim away....

Course you havent............ They dont die immediately its over about 30 hours