What mackerel eat

[thejollysinker]

Never ceases to amaze me what you see in the stomachs of fish, which shows how versatile their diets are.

 I forgot to mention on my last report that a lot of the mackerel we caught the other day were stuffed with baby crabs which I assume would have been floating on the currents before settling on the seabed…. I could be wrong 🤔

Tiny little critters they were.

[Malc]

Had them crawl up my legs when fishing from the kayak (legs akimbo with your feet over the side is comfortable and stable) and I have pictures on the PC but not here unfortunately. 

[Malc]

Also they do eat bottom dwelling animals, which is why they can have a few worm in their belly areas at times, which is why I don't do raw mackerel. 

[thejollysinker]

19 hours ago, Malc said:

Also they do eat bottom dwelling animals, which is why they can have a few worm in their belly areas at times, which is why I don't do raw mackerel. 

so who passes on the worms then...? and yeah, the thought of eating a raw fish that you know had those things squirming around inside 🤢

interestingly not one of the mackerel we caught had worms!

[Andy135]

The mackerel I caught last weekend all had tiny sandeels in them. 2-3cm in length.

[GPSguru]

58 minutes ago, thejollysinker said:

interestingly not one of the mackerel we caught had worms!

I have never seen worms in mack or pollock, however, seen plenty in Cod.

Also, I don't like raw fish, contrary to popular belief, I’m not a feck’in seal. 🙄

[mike farrants]

seen plenty of worms in the belly cavity of macks round our way - none in the flesh!

 

[Saintly Fish]

26 minutes ago, GPSguru said:

I have never seen worms in mack or pollock, however, seen plenty in Cod.

Also, I don't like raw fish, contrary to popular belief, I’m not a feck’in seal. 🙄

Walrus....... 

There is a difference, but seeing as you're helping me out I'll not point that out!! 

[GPSguru]

9 minutes ago, mike farrants said:

seen plenty of worms in the belly cavity of macks round our way - none in the flesh!

 

I dont eat the guts, only the flesh 🙄😇🤣🤣🤣

[Saintly Fish]

46 minutes ago, GPSguru said:

I dont eat the guts, only the flesh 🙄😇🤣🤣🤣

[Malc]

16 hours ago, thejollysinker said:

so who passes on the worms then...? 

Apparently it's a life cycle, seal eats infected fish, 💩 drops to sea floor, crustaceans eat 💩  , fish eat crustaceans...

A real 💩 fest!

15 hours ago, GPSguru said:

I have never seen worms in mack or pollock, however, seen plenty in Cod.

Less so in pollock but inshore kelp dwellers sometimes have them.

[thejollysinker]

9 hours ago, Malc said:

Apparently it's a life cycle, seal eats infected fish, 💩 drops to sea floor, crustaceans eat 💩  , fish eat crustaceans...

A real 💩 fest!

Less so in pollock but inshore kelp dwellers sometimes have them.

Sounds delightful, glad I don’t eat 💩🤣

[Malc]

15 hours ago, thejollysinker said:

Sounds delightful, glad I don’t eat 💩🤣

Bottom dwellers do what bottom dwellers do!