Atlantic Mackerel is the most common baitfish for hand baiting in the Barents Sea. However, for the deep sea Autoliners it has lost ground to the increased availability of squid and saury.

The Atlantic Mackerel can reach a size of 60 cm and weigh over 3 kg per fish, common length is 30 cm. This species is distributed over most of the North Atlantic Ocean, including the Baltic Sea; Eastern Atlantic including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; Western Atlantic from Labrador to Cape Lookout. The total mackerel stock is sustainable, and classified “least concern” by IUCN.

The mackerel has tough skin and flaky meat. Autumn and winter caught mackerel make good baits and are of most even size. They are suitably fat without being so fat that they easily drop off the hook. The baitfish must be fresh, preferable transported in refrigerated sea water and brine frozen immediately when landed.  Blastfrozen fish must be glazed individually by spraying water onto them before they are packed. This keeps air out and helps prevent them from going rancid.