Mack Attack

Riverport, NS

July 27, 2013

One of my better hauls of the summer....reminds me I should hit the wharf again to see if there are any Fall run mackerel around.

Cod carcass graveyard

Tapper's Cove Wharf

Torbay, Newfoundland

Aug. 12, 2012

This was a sight to behold, hundreds of filet-less cod bodies laying underwater beside the wharf.   I half expected to see legions of crabs and other underwater scavengers crawling over these cod remnants.  Oddly, not much activity down there...at least, not any I could see from the wharf.

Most folks fillet their haul at the wharf and chuck what remains in the water.  I understand why, just imagine 15 cod rotting in your compost bin for 2 weeks and you'll see why folks fillet at the wharf and not at home. 

Last feed of local asparagus, first feed of fresh mackerel

Sad to see the end of the local (read = Lun. County) asparagus, delicious as always.  


SO EXCITED to have my first feed of fresh mackerel.  Tastes even better when you catch 'em yourself.  Mack attack is ON!

Smoked Kiack

Smoked kiack ('technically this is an alewife, a shad/river herring within the genus Alosa) can be found at roadside stands this time of year.  I found this beauty at a farm market in Liverpool a couple weekends ago.  It tastes as good as it looks!  This was my first time dealing with a whole smoked fish that had scales.  It took a while to figure out how to extract the delectable smoked fish, but once I did...heaven.


If you see folks with long handled dip nets, hauling fish out of rivers this time of year, they are dipping kiack, also known as gaspereau in these parts.  While some are smoked and sold to adoring fans like myself, most are used as bait in lobster traps/pots.


So, if you see a hand scribbled sign at the side of the road advertising "kayaks", "kiacks", "smoke kiack", etc..don't be alarmed.  Stop, go in, buy some (preferably in the filleted form, I learned my lesson) and let the party in your mouth commence.

Mo' monochrome mackerel 2011

Mo' monochrome, mo' problems? Hopefully not. Please let me know if you are sick of my monochrome shots. ^_^

As you might have guessed, this is a shot of some fishers at a local wharf, filling their buckets with mackerel from the Spring/Summer 2011 run . Delicious!

For those that are interested in learning more about mackerel, check out this informative National Marine Fisheries Service article.

A feast fit for a king!

My first 12" mackerel of the season, grilled to perfection. Drooling....again.

School's out?

Ha! Not a chance...the wharf rats (myself included) are still hauling in the mackerel hand over fist.

Turns out my shots from last week are a treasure trove for grayscale/monochrome conversions. I lucked out with the profile of the guy's face on the right, I hope you enjoy it too.

I have cropped and updated the shot from yesterday's post. Thanks to everyone for the feedback, I appreciate it!

Mmmmack attack!

Asparagus, mushrooms, herring (top photo, in foreground) and mackerel are all local and in season...except that 'tater. Shame on me, that should be a new potato.

I will redeem myself and buy some new potatoes when it's time to make some hodge podge. Mmmm, hodge podge...