mackerel

[lukey]

Hi all i was at blyth pier a couple of weeks ago now and was giving some mackys of a lad on there 10 in total i gave them to my grandad as he loves any sort of fish but he complained that they wernt oily enough and asked me to ask someone why....so i thought who would know better than you lot

thanks for any answers

[g-force]

I don't know how long they'll have been lying around before you were given them, but I wouldn't fancy eating the majority of fish caught there - often see them sweating in a plastic bag in the sun for hours on end. Mackerel goes off faster than just about any other fish, so if you want them for eating I'd advise taking a coolbox with plenty of ice-packs & getting the fish straight in there as soon as they're caught. The ones you were given had probably dried out & were frankly fit only for the bin (or cat).

Gary

[adam.d]

I was told that they loose a good bit of their oil after they've spawned? dunno how true that is tho???

[drifter]

As with all fish preparing to spawn, when their eggs are developing they draw goodness from the flesh and as a consequence the flesh is less oily. After spawning the fish will feed freely and quickly replace the oils. Late season Mackerel are always more oily than early season Mackerel and if frozen, are certainly better for next seasons early Cod.

[lukey]

the fish were and in me grandads belly with 6 hours with a few frozen aswell.....