WA Fish Quest EP 55: Pacific Jack Mackerel

Mackerel invaded the Strait of Juan de Fuca this year! I catch my first one and try different methods of cooking it. It's either really good or REALLY bad!
Here is the link to Peeling Line's video:
• Mackerel Fishing Washi...
Filmed October 2023

[@joevales6775]

Holy mackerel Blake! Did you get stitches too? Great to see you "mix y-mixy" with other targeted fishing. Love the shirts. Take and be safe!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Joe! No stitches this time. Super appreciate the comment!

[@gs6810]

You channel reminds me of an old school public access TV show and I mean that in the best way possible. Absolutely love it.

[@WAFishQuest]

Heck yeah GS! Super appreciate that. I think to some I come across as ungrateful to KZbin. That's because to me, wa fish quest was always going to exist. If KZbin/internet didn't become a thing, public access for sure. I try to capture the spirit of the 90s a bit the show. Thanks again for the high praise!

[@joedukes9760]

Another good video Blake! I bumped into you there at the dock and introduced myself We caught plenty of those mackerel there just trolling for Coho’s. My first attempt at cooking the mackerel didn’t go so well, however am now more encouraged to give it another shot. Smoking it is definitely on the agenda Thumbs up

[@WAFishQuest]

Hey Joe! Totally remember. Thanks for the kind words on the dock. Thought for sure I was just standing in your way. 😂

[@anonymous_816]

Blake you are such an inspiration to me in my fishing adventures. I hope you recover quickly and awesome content! Thank you!

[@WAFishQuest]

Wow, thank you so much! I can't ask for any higher praise than that.

[@calvinoutdoors4846]

Super cool Blake, thanks for sharing brothA.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Calvin!!

[@evergreenunited2264]

This video answers many questions for me. Super stoked you got into these guys.

[@WAFishQuest]

I owe it all to my buddy Hugh's buddy Alex! 😂

[@deibert1]

I've caught a handful of them off westport. My dad loved them. The first thing he would do is 86 that bloodline. He would always say people who diss them cook them with the bloodline left in.

[@ronjones1414]

Coming from So Cal, I can assure you, there is no better smoked fish than mackerel. The OceanSide fish shop used to trade one smoked fish for 2 raw, and I lived off it during the summer.

[@sov19871987]

Agree, I won't ever trade smoked mackerel for salmon, mackerel got to be cold smoke for me

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Ron! Sounds like a great trade!

[@konstantinivanov1986]

Bonito might be better if done right.

[@PeelingLine]

Nice catches. Start jigging if you get one. There are massive schools of them. Looked delicious. Popular fish to eat in Ireland. I pickled one of mine and baked two others. Both were good. Too many people are food snobs.👍

[@WAFishQuest]

That makes sense-- thank you Brett!

[@davidworthen4250]

Always informative Blake. I like to see using all the salmon possible. I hope more people try the Mackerel, .it seems like an untapped resource. ( feel better )

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you David! I'm jussst starting to get over the curse. Been about 10 days.

[@victortaus3035]

Thank you for changing my perception. I too had hear the same thing about mackerel and have historically used it as bait or fertilizer. Guess I will have to try your panfry recipe. CHEERS! Note: The mackerel I have caught in the past were from the Bay Area South, and in fact a lot smaller type species. That may be the difference.

[@WAFishQuest]

Very cool!! Cheers and thank you for the info!

[@nate.or.nodate]

That was huge! Frickin awesome vid as always!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always Nate!

[@RV_Chef_Life]

Digging the catch and cooks Blake for sure! I’ll have to take your word for as I’ve only had canned, and that’s not bad either.

[@WAFishQuest]

Oh good to know GnG. Canned sardines are one of my favorite foods.

[@weerezboy28]

Great to see a new WFQ! Hope your scratchy throat didn't ruin too many fishing trips, tight lines Blake! p.s. When I saw you catch that Mackerel in the last video I was wondering why you didn't highlight it with a some fish facts, then I thought to myself, I bet there will be a new WFQ coming out soon.

[@WAFishQuest]

Oh no! I forgot the fish fact in this video! Thanks Brad for triggering my memory.

[@blownchevy83]

Great video Blake. Hope your feeling better.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Micah! I am still fighting it. Been almost two weeks! Probably the mackerel flu.

[@slacktide_angler]

Mackerel is wonderful stuff. I agree that cooking it plain does wonders. Personally, I think grilled and finished with a sprinkle of salt and a spritz of lime is best!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Mr. Slack! I can't wait to try and get some more next year!

[@jonathanfarney957]

We caught a couple between coho out at Westport this past September in 250 fow. We found them fun to catch and a surprisingly good meal as well.

[@WAFishQuest]

That's awesome! Thanks for the heads up. Makes me wonder how many are out there!

[@CatchGrowPickCook]

woah! a rarely encountered species in WA ! now i totally want to catch one !

[@khanhtuannguyen]

Love the longer video!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Khan! I'm just glad it didn't get too scary at the end.

[@kirkhustle3718]

Excellent!!!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Kirk!

[@chriscruz6486]

Bloodlines make great bait!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the tip Chris!! I'll keep that in mind for next time.

[@jimyoung7090]

Bonita has that blood line also and I know from experience to make sure too cut it out without missing any! People were saying the same things about the Bonita as you were hearing about your Jack Mackerel.

[@leonthearkie1555]

The best video yet, Blake. I've been watching from the start, and this is such an informative piece about a species that no one knows. I caught several off the dock in Bamfield B.C. and was told good crab bait, Eh?

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Leon! I super appreciate you being a long-time friend of the show. In Sekiu, opinions were split. People loved or hated them. Most hated them. I don't think most of all if the haters have actually tried them though. 🤔

[@JD-ft2lr]

Grill the salmon carcass wirh with a little seasoning of choice, not too long, grab a fork n dig in for a great snack after just filleting

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the tip!! Great idea.

[@JD-ft2lr]

Kinda like the mohawk. Look forward to it growing in

[@WAFishQuest]

Ha ha thanks. It's not a real mohawk, more like the Ed Grimly, I must say.

[@gs6810]

Jack mackerel is not a true mackerel like pacific mackerel but rather in the jack/pompano family. They are great eating fish that can be cooked in any method and come out delicious. Fried, smoked, grilled, sautéed, it's all excellent when fresh.

[@WAFishQuest]

Whoa!! Thank you for all that info. I forgot to do my fish fact this episode, I might follow up with a short including this info!

[@HobbiesHobo]

In BC I don't think I've ever heard anyone ever mention catching any of these, they don't even come up in general conversation, weird eh. East coast mackerel were a favourite of mine but they are a totally different kind of fish (much smaller). Really interesting video Blake.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Mike! Good to know they're tasty coast to coast!!

[@PeelingLine]

My friend caught one outside of Quatsino Sound (north Vancouver Island). Not sure how much further north in BC they go but you get them at least to there.

[@HobbiesHobo]

That's really cool to hear, thanks for the info!@@PeelingLine

[@enochjung53]

The best channel!!! now you need to try the sashimi version!! (only works with fresh caught ones)

[@sethteeters9565]

Cool episode!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Seth!

[@adamjensen795]

Awesome video, Blake. Keep up the good work

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Adam!

[@SteveFromWyoming]

it sure looked good, I've never caught or tried them but I would for sure.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Steve! It was super good. I've heard they decline in flavor/texture if you freeze them.

[@ilonakiforishin1273]

Hello Blake to see your wonderful video!!!!!! :)

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Ilona! Wow, that Bengals game was rough on offense. Nice to see the D do great tho. Thank you and go Hawks!

[@ilonakiforishin1273]

@@WAFishQuest Yea very tough bengals team but we almost won our offense struggled next week we have the cardinals Go Seahawks!!!!!💙💚

[@ilonakiforishin1273]

@@WAFishQuest you’re welcome at least the defense did very good!!!!! :)

[@ilonakiforishin1273]

@@WAFishQuest we had a chance at the final drive I was getting excited I thought we will get the touchdown and win Geno was not good and the interception hurts Geno gets pressure every time constantly I was frustrated

[@28djsolo]

Wonderful job!! I am always curious whether if Mackerel do make their way to WA water and You answered it!! It is super exciting!! Did you catch them during early October?

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you and indeed! This trip was Oct 3-4, 2023. Total blast. I know people were catching them by mid-September there too.

[@ragsyfoodtube7650]

Ahh want to get to Seiku for these now on my kayak

[@WAFishQuest]

They're pretty cool! Sounds like people get them out of Neah too if that's an easier launch/peddle for you.

[@andersonj1each26]

We catch a ton of them in Westport. Bait thieves but yes they do taste pretty good and make great bait as well.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you! Do you catch them going for tuna, salmon, or both?

[@andersonj1each26]

@@WAFishQuest mostly salmon, we’ve caught a few out for tuna but as soon as they show up you move because they will decimate a bait ball in no time. I’ve caught them as close as the #2 bouy but we catch them every year out in the 270-300 FOW fishing for salmon. Again if you run into them you might as well feel up and move because that’s all you’ll catch when they show up, if you don’t want them.

[@catchandeat]

Try it sashimi, it's great and similar to yellowtail since they're both jacks.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the hot tip CNE!!

[@B_Broad14]

nice work! Glad to hear there is something else to smoke out there. What year is the whaler?!?! That's awesome.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you thank you! I'm not sure on the year of the Whaler. I'll try to remember to ask Tony. I know it was a project boat so probably not too modern.

[@ttownmegster]

1988. It is a super fun little boat--easy to handle alone. It is kind of like a surf board with a motor--a little wet.@@WAFishQuest

[@everettseahawk8347]

Interesting. I have always caught them on charters out of westport and they always are very quick to throw them back, saying they stink up the boat and are no good to eat. Its been the same on a few different boats. Now I am curious and want to try one.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks as always Everett Seahawk! I think you'll be glad you did! If they refuse to clean it, so long as it's bleed and iced should be fine.

[@wojomojo]

Hmmm yum. I need to go get me some! Is there a limit?

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Wojo! I do not believe so.

[@warrenhunts]

FWIW I love Mackerel nigiri

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Warren! Next time I'll have some raw then. Thanks!

[@gordonv2456]

At school a neighbor ate it canned and the back bones were chopped up with the meat an in the cans. I have heard it is good but never heard it was good battered and deep fried.

[@WAFishQuest]

Very cool Gordon. I was amazed how good it is fresh!

[@victortaus3035]

Pacific Chub Mackerel

[@WAFishQuest]

I don't think the chub mackerel get near this big, but I could be wrong.

[@sov19871987]

Love that fish, I buy at Costco 20-30 at a time for the smoker, I do cold smoke only

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks for the tip! Oh yeah, cold smoke would be really great on those!

[@dropncovergaming575]

Next time don't use any liquid just salt brown sugar and some garlic pepper and anything else you would like to add I can promise you it'll be perfect every time

[@WAFishQuest]

Awesome, thanks DnC Gaming! I def. over-flavored it with that brine.

[@troytwibell6876]

🤔. Never caught one but if I ever do…

[@WAFishQuest]

🐟 🍳 👍

[@AaronSprague1]

Are they a seasonal catch? If they are do you know anything about the season?

[@WAFishQuest]

Year round and no limit, Aaron! But they only appear in the summer and early fall up here.

[@kaneloc8491]

Did you go on a tour for this?

[@WAFishQuest]

A tour? Like a guide? No, just out with a buddy. 😊

[@Jarom.M]

I didn't see it in other comments, so I'll ask: have you had a chance to try the bloodline and if so, how was it?

[@WAFishQuest]

Hey Jarom! I'm still getting over being sick if you can believe it. Basically been fighting the cruds all month. I'll give it a try in the next couple days I think. On the mend.

[@Jarom.M]

I can believe it,@@WAFishQuest. The junk going around has a real stick-to-it-tive-ness and it really hard to shake. It took me a few weeks to get rid of it and yet, there is a sliver that is still holding on.

[@alexgovoru9748]

Did the stomach have hella worms?