these tinker are on the menu

[Flogger]

Hello,

What's the meaning of the word "tinker" in the following sentence? Does it have an irregular plural form?

No sir, these tinker are on the menu.

The Young Man and the Sea by Great Source

 

[5jj]

Rather more context would have helped. The reference is to a shoal of tinker mackerel which has just exploded out of the water. "These tinker ain’t feeding. No sir, these tinker are on the menu." They are not feeding - they are likely to be eaten by a larger fish that is after them.

Tinkers are young mackerel.