The Atlantic Mackerel has a distinctively patterned back, brilliantly colored in blues and greens with black striping. The dark, oily meat of the Mackerel isn't much for table fare, but makes great bait for bluefish, summer flounder, sharks and many other species.

Mackerel make a run up the coast in early spring, passing through New Jersey waters through the month of April. The mackerel don't generally stay in one place anymore than a few days, a week at most. They are steaming up the cost looking for cooler water and trying to stay ahead of the hungry bluefish that are right on their tails.

Mackerel are caught using Mackerel "trees", four and five hook rigs with small hooks and colored teasers, with about a 6-oz. jig at the bottom. Most fish are foul hooked as the Mackerel is usually trying to bat the teaser out of its path.