MACKEREL, SPANISH

M, S -

MACKEREL, SPANISH

Scientific Name: 
scomberomorus maculatus
Salt/Fresh: 
Salt
Also Known As: 
SPANISH MACKEREL; Atlantic Spanish Mackerel; Horse Mackerel; Spotted Mackerel, Spaniard, Spotted Cybium; Pyatnistaya Makrel; Ispanskaya Makrel; Carite; Carite Atlántico; Pintada; Serrucho; Sierra; Sierra Común; Sierra Pintada; Gefleckte Königsmakrele; Makrela Hiszpanska; Makréni; Plettet Kongemakrel; Serra-espanhola; Sororoca; Sgombro Macchiato; Spaanse Makriel; Taza Doré; Thazard Atlantique; Thazard Blanc; Thazard Tacheté du Sud
Rating: 
Countries: 
Other Countries
United States
Description: 

The name can be confussing but this IS NOT the same as the Spanish Mackerel referred to in Australia. The Mackerel called Spanish Mackerel in Australia is the Narrowbarred Mackerel (see http://www.myfishingplace.com.au/fish/mackerel-narrow-barred ). The Spanish Mackerel is a migratory species of mackerel that swims to the Northern Gulf of Mexico in spring, returns to south Florida in the Eastern Gulf, and to Mexico in the Western Gulf in the fall. The Spanish Mackerel is a valued fish to recreational or commercial fisheries throughout its range.

How To Identify: 

The fish exhibits a green back; its sides are silvery marked with about three rows of round to elliptical yellow spots. Lateral line gradually curving down from the upper end of the gill cover toward caudal peduncle. The first (spiny) dorsal fin is black at the front. Posterior membranes are white with a black edge. Its single row of cutting edged teeth in each jaw (around sixty-four teeth in all) are large, uniform, closely spaced and flattened from side to side. As with the King Mackerel and the Cero Mackerel, these teeth look very similar to those of the Bluefish.

How To Catch: 

Spanish Mackerel are a highly valued fish throughout their range from North Carolina to Texas. Recreational anglers catch Spanish Mackerel from boats while trolling or drifting and from boats, piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs and live-bait fishing. Fast lure retrieves are key to catching these quick fish. Commercial methods are primarily run-around gill netting, and rarely, by trolling lures similar to those used by recreational anglers.

Where Found: 

International

Spanish Mackerel occur seasonally from the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico, as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They are a shallow water species, preferring sand bottom in depths of 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m), occasionally found as deep as 80 feet (24 m).

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