There's a picture here of a chap with a Garfish Janiepopps
http://www.whitewatercharters.co.uk/images/fish/dave-lewis-garfish-l.jpg The ones I caught down your way from the rocks were a similar size
They do like mackeral strip for bait (thin strip of the white belly of the mackeral is best) and can chase mackeral as you're pulling the mackeral in.
They're sometimes known as Mackeral scout as they arrive ahead of the mackeral in the spring but this name has all but died out now.
Yes they're very good eating but they can give off a strange smell after being caught (which I don't know what the reason for is. Some kind of defence maybe) Also the flesh along the backbone can look greeny brown and not very appetising but this flesh turns white after cooking. The bones are also an almost fluroescent green and stay green after cooking. All these things sometimes put people off eating them but I can assure you they are quite safe and very nice to eat. Don't be put off by the smell (they don't always give it off) and look of the flesh on the backbone. The silver colour of the skin is startlingly silver.
They are great fun to catch on light tackle and put up a fair fight and often 'tail walk' across the top of the water after being hooked. Also they can thrash about if you're hauling them up rocks and throw the hook and get away. Floatfishing mackeral strip as described is best for these fish and set the hook just a couple of feet down as they're surface feeders. Don't strike straight away as soon as the float dissapears. Allow the bite to develop. That is wait a few seconds after the float goes under before you strike. This will give you a better chance of setting the hook. They've got very hard bony mouths and yes the beak is sharp and hurts if you stab yourself with it. Use forceps or pliers to remove the hook.
Hope that helps.
Yes I'll keep you updated Janie. I wasn't happy to have missed the last one and don't need much of an excuse to go fishing.
I'll have a think and suggest something after Chrimbo
