Current Nature: Holy Mackerel

With the weather warming up and May fast approaching, many Nantucket residents have one thing on their mind; saltwater fishing. After a long, cold winter with not much going on in the harbors and nearshore environments, anglers jump at the opportunity to hit the water. Most people this time of the year are laser-focused on the arrival of Striped Bass, and with good reason, but there are other exciting fish showing up with interesting ecologies and life histories.

My favorite fish to highlight in the spring is Atlantic Mackerel. These are pelagic, schooling fish that spend the colder months offshore in deep water but as the weather warms come close into shore and closer to the surface. On Nantucket, May usually signals the arrival of mackerel into our harbors. In some years, influxes are massive, with large groups of fish seen all over the harbors, in other years they are scarcer. Despite the name ‘Atlantic’ they occur throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas as well. Atlantic Mackerel are part of the family that includes mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and they share some body characteristics and behaviors with those other well-known fish. They are brightly colored and iridescent and if the water clarity is right, you can see their shine from above the water. Mackerel are an active, fast-moving fish, you might see them swim by and a minute later they are already on the other side of the harbor. Mackerel mainly feed on copepods, swimming in tight schools with their mouths open to basically form a ‘net’ to scoop all the prey up. Despite their relatively small body size compared to other similar species, they can live up to 17 years old.

Commercially, Atlantic Mackerel are of great importance as a food source, especially in northwestern Europe. They receive less recreational interest than many other fish and often seem overlooked on Nantucket. Although I see a few people targeting mackerel, especially as a bait for larger game fish, I believe many more individuals would enjoy the experience of mackerel fishing if given the opportunity. Mackerel fishing can be very active with near-constant landings or it can be boring with no fish in the area. Unlike other species, there generally is no in between, it is either hot or cold. Depending on the type of rig you use, you can catch multiple fish at a time, which is a unique experience. Mackerel sometimes receives the reputation as not being a good eating fish, but I dispute that entirely. Not only are they delicious but also nutritious, with high levels of Omega 3, vitamins, and minerals. They can be prepared in a variety of ways including grilled whole, smoked, or sashimi.

It is also important to remember good ethics when fishing, including having the appropriate licenses, following the regulations, and only taking what you need. Despite their commercial status, Atlantic Mackerel is not currently in a state of conservation concern; however, that status can always change if people overfish them. Even if you decide not to fish for them, the next time you are at the docks or boating around the harbor, look over and see if you can see their ripples and iridescent shine.

Stay tuned for more editions of Current Nature, a bi-weekly column featuring seasonal topics, natural history information, and advice on the outdoors from the staff at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.