MACKEREL, SHARK

Description:

Shark Mackerel is a common mackerel of the Great Barrier Reef.

How To Identify:

Shark Mackerel, like all Mackerel, have an elongated body with pointed noses and mouth full of very sharp teeth. The body of the Shark Mackerel is more a yellowish-green than a blue green and has a brassy - silvery belly. They are easily distinguished from other Mackerel as they have two distinct lateral lines. They also have much larger scales than the other Mackerel. Shark Mackerel also have a very ammonia smell when being cleaned much like a shark - hence its name. They grow to about 1.3 meters and around 12kg in weight.

How To Catch:

All Mackerel are great fun to catch and are excellent for the table, especially when fresh and when caught they are quickly bleed and put on a slurry of ice (which is really good for all fish that you are keeping to eat). Mackerel readily take trolled lures of minnow, feather jigs, metal lures and skirted lures. Live baits are another excellent way to catch all Mackerel. Mackerel can be come a common catch when reef fishing by 'floating' an unweighted pilchard or live bait out the back of the boat while bottom bouncing.

Where Found:

Shark Mackerel are found from northern New South Wales, right up the Queensland Coast through Northern Territory, and down to almost Perth in Western Australia. They are commonly found around the Great Barrier Reef where they wait in the deeper water at entrances to lagoons where bait fish tend to gather.

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