r/IrishFishing • u/Potential-Type3147 • 5h ago
r/IrishFishing • u/avail_space858 • Aug 12 '24
Mackerel, handling, dispatching, storing, preparing and cooking.
I just thought I'd post this because Mackerel are one of the first fish anyone will catch themselves, and one of the best tasting fish in the sea. I think a lot of people are put off eating fish due to them not being stored right , and being past their best, or eating a bone. This post is to help people out.
Handling
If you are out on a boat and you're fishing for something else and have caught as many mackerel as you need, but you keep catching them as a nuisance catch. you can put them back safely and they will survive. Once you don't touch their skin. If you touch the skin, it actually damages the skin irreparably and they will die within a day or two. So just catch the shank of the hook and shake it off like Taylor Swift. If you don't touch the skin they will be grand.
Dispatching
If you want to kill the fish upon catching (I do this because it's a bit more human) it's easy to break their neck- just get your fingers in under the gills and break the neck. Instant and painless and no flopping in the bucket for 5 minutes. Note: they may shit themselves as you do it so point the tail away from you!
Storing
Myths: They have to be eaten the day you catch them
They have to be gutted the second you catch them, else they will rot
You have to take off the head the second you catch them, else they will go bad
The single most important factor in your mackerel lasting more than a day is getting the fish as cold as humanly possible as fast as humanly possible. That is the thing that stops the bacteria getting going and spoiling the fish. If the mackerel is left sitting in the box or the bucket for a few hours and not being chilled, no amount of ice or being put in the fridge is going to make it last.
What I do is bring along a standard picnic cooler. Nothing fancy mine is 20 years old from argos. I put a bag or two of ice in it from the super market and then top up with sea water. After a little bit, that sea water will be ice cold. As you catch your fish, put them straight into the cooler. They have no chance to warm up and they get straight into a chilled state. When you get home, you can just transfer the fish from the cooler to your fridge. You know you are doing it right when you're transferring the fish and they are as stiff as a board, rather than the floppy nasty ones that have been in the plastic bag. I have kept whole ungutted mackerel in the fridge for three days in this way and they have been perfect.
Preparing
Now you have got your mackerel stored right, it would be a shame to ruin it with screwing up preparing it.
If you're going cooking the fish whole, like on the BBQ or under the grill, you will need to gut it. No big deal everyone should be able to do that. Eating mackerel whole from the BBQ is one of the best things in the world, but people need to warn their guests about the bones. The flesh from the lateral line upwards to the top (towards the dorsal fin) doesnt have any bones and you can munch into it with confidence. However anything south of the lateral line is prone to have very fine bones (both pin bones and belly bones) and you need to take a bit of care.
If you are filleting it, the first thing you need is a good sharp knife. There is no greater hardship than fish prep with a blunt knife. The type of knife is up to you, just make sure its not too big (like a huge chef knife) and its good and sharp.
If you are filleting the fish, no need to worry about gutting it. Follow the river cottage video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwcnxAMP3l4
There are a couple of really important things to note here. The first is taking off the belly bones. There are two sets of bones in a mackerel fillet- the pin bones and the belly bones. You really should get rid of both. I have seen countless people like fishmongers and TV chefs who remove the pin bones (with the "V-Cut" shown above) but never remove the belly bones. If you are going to the trouble of filleting the mackerel, you should do it right.
Cooking
This is certainly the easiest part because fresh mackerel are next to impossible to screw up.
If I dont want to mess about with prep, I love to grill them whole on the BBQ. You can take off the head it makes it look nicer but not essential. They need to be gutted. Gas grill, charcoal BBQ, over an open fire, its all good. You can go simple- olive oil, salt and pepper , or rub them with a nice spice rub. Mackerel is amazing with cajun spice rubs, harissa that kind of thing. It's robust so it can stand up to it. Cook the mackerel until the flesh is white and it parts easily off the bone. If you are a temp guy, its cooked like all fish at about 55 DegC.
If you really really want to impress and you have time, , the River Cottage recipe of mackerel stuffed with salsa verde is absolutely unreal. I've made this for people who dont eat fish and they have had amazing reactions to it.
https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/mackerel-stuffed-with-salsa-verde
Note: he says to leave the two fillets joined at the tail (it looks fancier) i dont bother I just fillet them normally and then stuff and tie them up.
Thats the mackerel mega post, I hope you find it useful
r/IrishFishing • u/mickydoodl3s • Jun 15 '16
Online Fishing Resources
Please collate all the links or resources that you would use planning or out fishing. please comment with ones that you want to share.
r/IrishFishing • u/andypadge • 7h ago
Lovely Irish wild brown trout
Lovely wild brown trout caught on Monday evening on a small sedge. Released safely to fight another day.
r/IrishFishing • u/youwouldinyourhole • 12h ago
Those of us that use Ali and Temu , Be careful going forward
I suspect the sites will eventually adapt and have more "eu sellers" but if you are like me an buy 40 jig heads at a time or 5 spools of random braid to try out you could be in for a serious shock, so be cautious lads.
r/IrishFishing • u/Man_for_Meaning98 • 13h ago
Fishing Group in Cork
Hi there,
Hope all are well.
I'm from Cork, near the City (East Cork) after moving back from Dublin and was wondering if there was any fishing group I could join.
I love fishing and have learned loads from people in this chat but do not have a wealth of knowledge. It would also be great to get to know people.
r/IrishFishing • u/Swimming_Car_270 • 1d ago
Freshwater Fishing Hard day but worth it 👌
r/IrishFishing • u/Purple-Insane • 1d ago
Fishing the River Suir, clumps of weeds floating down the river is nonstop for weeks now.
Spinning on the Suir outside Clonmel for week now river is full of weeds floating in the water, nearly every single cast is weeds, never seen it like this in the 30s years I've been fishing it.
Edit: Found out its Filamentous Green Algae caused by agricultural runoff
r/IrishFishing • u/No_Editor7199 • 1d ago
Lures
I've Benn fishing for bass and other fish in the slaney near enough to the heritage park and I just don't know what lure to use cause I don't know what I'm targeting or what I'm doing any advice is appreciated
r/IrishFishing • u/Objective_Tie_7626 • 2d ago
Sea Fishing Spot I was at today
All the bait ate by them
r/IrishFishing • u/bygonesbebygones2021 • 1d ago
Any mackerel about ?
Was thinking about heading down to doolin Pier this evening for the high tide. Anyone lucky with a catch yet ?
r/IrishFishing • u/lanciadub • 1d ago
Boat storage in Midlands
Hi folks, I'm looking for somewhere to store a 17ft fishing boat ( about 20ft with trailer) close to lakes such as Derravaragh, Ennell, Sheelin or Owel.
Indoors, outdoors doesn't matter, just want to be able to grab it on a weekend and hit a lake.
Any suggestions much appreciated.
r/IrishFishing • u/youwouldinyourhole • 2d ago
Long Shot- But I Found a fishermans bag near East Ferry in Cork harbour. Trying to reunite owner with his stuff if possible
If you are on here and can describe the contents its all yours.
r/IrishFishing • u/AMCQ1972 • 2d ago
Snapped handle
A nice mornings fishing ruined when the handle of my reel snapped off. It wasn’t expensive but not cheapo either. Any idea if any Dublin tackle shops would sell a handle without a full reel?
r/IrishFishing • u/AtomicBabyPants • 3d ago
First one this year. Back in the water, happy days.
r/IrishFishing • u/Low-Praline960 • 3d ago
Bait Fishing Caught first ever trout. lovely stocky kept it because it was gut hooked unfortunately
r/IrishFishing • u/mantistoboggan42 • 3d ago
Bullock Harbour boat/rib rental
Any info lads? i’d love to get out on the boat fishing tomorrow , let me know if you’ve any contact details for any around there . or any seats available on your own boats 👀
r/IrishFishing • u/Embarrassed-Web5243 • 3d ago
Caught this big trout in the dodder, eating good tonight
r/IrishFishing • u/Additional-Deer-6564 • 4d ago
Sea Fishing Need some advise.
I’m new enough to fishing and have only went about 3 times. I’m doing Sea fishing off Cahore Pier in Wexford. I’ve got 2 mackeral and bass 10ft 80-150g. I’m thinking about using 1 rod for sea bass and pollock and the other rod for mackeral. I’ll be fishing from about May31st-July 25th usually at about 6-9:30pm. Anyone have any advice, tips or lure/bait recommendations?
r/IrishFishing • u/Freemano98 • 4d ago
Lure Fishing Twait Shad
So I was lead to believe that the Shad only run up the Barrow river... However, I was fishing in the slaney just now and I seen quite a number of large schools making their way up stream... I managed to catch two. I had just caught my first one in St. Mullins a week ago and I was shocked to see them in the Slaney in Wexford also. Does anyone know how many rivers they are present in in Ireland
r/IrishFishing • u/MaximumMousse4244 • 5d ago
First ever pollock
Was too rushed to measure in the moment. Anyone could help me with a rough estimate in cm? So i can break my pb next time!
Cheers
r/IrishFishing • u/Candid_Analysis6571 • 5d ago
Fishing for bream roach perch in Sligo, hooked into a pike for a second while reeling in a little roach, came off though.
r/IrishFishing • u/chickenchukka • 5d ago
Sea Fishing Need advice on bringing rods and tackle
Hi all,
I’m looking for some advice from anglers in Ireland.
I currently use Major Craft Indra IND-902MH (9ft MH) and do shore fishing and light surf fishing and I’m wondering whether it’s worth bringing my existing rod, reel and tackle to Ireland, or if I’d be better off buying gear after I arrive.
A few questions:
1.Has anyone travelled to Ireland with fishing rods? Any issues with airlines or airport handling?
Is a shore casting setup like the Major Craft suitable for Irish coastal fishing or are heavier rods generally preferred?
Are there any restrictions on bringing fishing tackle, lures, hooks, reels, braided line, etc. into Ireland?
Would you recommend bringing my gear or starting fresh in Ireland?
I’ll most likely be fishing from beaches, piers and rocky shorelines.
r/IrishFishing • u/fishing-guide_wex • 5d ago
New fishing guide.
🎣 Wexford Fishing Guide 🎣
We’re a local fishing guide service based in County Wexford, offering guided shore fishing sessions for anglers of all experience levels. Founded by Josh and Jason, our goal is to share our passion for fishing, local knowledge, and years of experience on Wexford’s coast, rivers, lakes, and ponds.
We target a variety of species including European Sea Bass, Pike, Brown Trout, Perch, Mackerel, Sea Trout, and Salmon. Whether you’re a beginner looking to catch your first fish or an experienced angler wanting to explore new waters, we’d be delighted to help.
📍 County Wexford, Ireland
🎣 Beginner Friendly
📩 Instagram: @bassfishing_wexford
📧 wexfordbassfishing0@gmail.com
Local Knowledge. Real Experience. Unforgettable Memories.


