Spotted Mackerel

Also known as Australian spotted mackerel (Scomberomorus munroi).

In a good year these guys show up around here late October or early November. We often try to monitor the water temperature and want it to bump up from 19-21 degrees Celsius to 23+ degrees. This normally corresponds with strong southerly winds creating a down-welling that brings in warmer surface water closer to the coast. Scientifically this is due to the Ekman transport - the balance between wind friction and the Coriolis effect - which I hope to understand one day! More importantly however is that the East Australian Current (EAC) starts moving warm water from up north down the coast. The fish follows the warm water.

Initially we just get one or two and word starts going around that so-and-so got one! This is the trigger for a lot more people on the water, so we try to keep it quiet for as long as we can. Eventually we get a good run with spotties in numbers and the word really gets out. From this time the spotties come and go. I imagine they're migrating down the coast in groups which is why we don't see them in numbers every day. Also the EAC is kinda pulsating warm water closer to the coast. It's not uncommon for the water to go from a balmy 24 degrees back down to 20 degrees, whereas we all get into despair.

By January we're catching spotties regularly and this normally lasts until April or May, but the big runs happen mostly Nov to Feb.

Spotted mackerel, I'll find a better pic one day

Spotted mackerel - very nice flesh