The ST916 mackerel rod spearing machine pushes a metal rod through the eye area of the farmed and gutted mackerels (300-500grams), automating this once time consuming and hazardous job. Pre-formed trays places the mackerels at optimal distance from each other for smoking and make it easy for the operator to manually feed the machine. By pushing two buttons simultaneously, the operator’s hands cannot come near the system as this closes a guard. The spear is pneumatically pushed through all the mackerels and can spear +/-14 mackerels per minute. When the pushing system retracts, the machine is loaded with a new spear for the next batch and the cycle can be repeated. The spear now containing the mackerels is taken out of the machine and are ready be placed in a smoking chamber. Spear lengths depend on smoking chamber brand and size and thus determines the machine length.