Queensland School Mackerel is a popular Mackerel species of Australia
Queensland School Mackerel, like all Mackerel, have an elongated body with pointed noses and mouth full of very sharp teeth. They have a silvery grey body, that is bluey green above the lateral line. They are often confused with the spotted Mackerel, however can be distinguished by the blotches on the School Mackerel are poorly defined and less than the spotted Mackerel, also the first dorsal fin which is jet black has a large contrasting white section between the sixth and seventh spine which the spotted Mackerel does not have. School Mackerel can grow to about a meter and around 8 kgs in weight however common in the 1.5-4kg range.
All Mackerel are great fun to catch and are excellent for the table, especially when fresh and when caught they are quickly bleed and put on a slurry of ice (which is really good for all fish that you are keeping to eat). Mackerel readily take trolled lures of minnow, feather jigs, metal lures and skirted lures. Live baits are another excellent way to catch all Mackerel. Mackerel can be come a common catch when reef fishing by 'floating' an unweighted pilchard or live bait out the back of the boat while bottom bouncing. Queensland School Mackerel prefer slightly smaller bait than say the Spaniard Mackerel and trolling half pilchards or other small fish can be very productive. They can also sometimes be seen schooling under diving birds where casting small metal lures retrieved quite quickly can be productive
The Queensland School Mackerel as the name suggests is very common along the Queensland coast however also found sometimes in northern New South Wales and across the top of Australia right around to Northern Western Australia. School Mackerel prefer inshore waters within a kilometer or so from shore around reef or rock areas. They also venture into bays and estuaries.