Thread: Northern Mackerel?

Was just checking out the okaloosa island pier fb page and there are numerous references to northern mackerel. I'm assuming they're referring to Atlantic macs, but not sure. I don't know of any other mackerel besides kings, cerro, Spanish and Atlantic.

I've caught them off of the OIP and I think you're right with the identification. They pull really hard and they'll hit anything flashy. I caught them on gotchas. The ones I've caught have all been about 3 lbs. OIP is the only place I've caught them.

They are Atlantic Bonita (true bonita, NOT little tunny)!
Very tasty, as others noted, OIP is the only place i have ever caught them.
I used to have a pic showing the difference, will have to dig it up.

Found the image:
Bonito.jpg

Originally Posted by eym_sirius

I've caught them off of the OIP and I think you're right with the identification. They pull really hard and they'll hit anything flashy. I caught them on gotchas. The ones I've caught have all been about 3 lbs. OIP is the only place I've caught them.

Atlantic macs (scomber scombrus) that I catch in Maine are tasty little things that are very rarely more than a pound. I've only ever caught one that was more than 2 lbs. Most people I know use them for striper bait or for baiting lobster pots. 12-18" generally, with an iridescent blue back with black wormy stripes shading down to a silvery white belly.

Ah- bonito. Thanks for clearing that up. Different names for different fish depending on where you are regionally.

We got into a school of them out near the 3 mile barge (out of Perdido Pass) a couple of years ago, but that's the only time I've caught them around here, otherwise, as you say, OIP.

Caught some there a couple weeks ago , they were fun

In years past I've caught them in Panama City, fairly regularly actually.

Originally Posted by CarlF

They are Atlantic Bonita (true bonita, NOT little tunny)!
Very tasty, as others noted, OIP is the only place i have ever caught them.
I used to have a pic showing the difference, will have to dig it up.

That's right - we've had this conversation before. True bonito! Hard-pulling little rascals!

Atlantic Macs are a cool/cold water species, it would be pretty wild for them to show up this far south.