Trolling for mackerel

[pingpangdang]

Originally Posted by AngryTurtle

Lots of places Spanish Mackerel is a prime eating fish, but I have always heard about folks going after bigger ones. how big do they have to be to be worthwhile to eat?

They refer to them as aji in Japan....they actually sell them at the Japanese supermarkets up by convoy street.

They are popular in Japan for their bentos (lunch boxes). They butterfly them and put some type of flaky batter and fry them. Add some of the brown sauce they have and serve w/ rice....it's great.

Also in Japan some sushi go arounds have tanks w/ aji (spanish macks) swimming around.

You tell the chef which one you want he grabs a net and makes sushi before your eyes. They put the sushi on the plate along w/ the head and bones for presentation (the fish is still gulping).

They then take the head and bones to the back and deep fry. They salt it and it's like eating a crispy potato chip head to tail.

They usually serve aji w/ green onions on top w/ ponzu sauce (vinegar soy sauce mixture).

Also at festivals or near the beaches in the summer you'll find them sold on sticks w/ rock salt grilled up right in front of you. If done right you can eat the head and all.

I like them better than greenbacks. They have soft white meat that is not oily or fishy. Just pick away w/ chop sticks (using a fork will get you stressed out w/ the bones).