Overview
Very fast pelagic fish moving in huge schools. Voracious predator of small fish and crustaceans.
Identification
Fusiform bodyDorsal and anal finletsSmall, smooth scalesLarge mouth with prominent upper jawPronounced eyesDeeply forked tail
- Body
- Fusiform and hydrodynamic, with a streamlined and slender body.
- Colouration
- Blue-green coloration with black oblique stripes on the back and white belly.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not obvious
- Growth
- Fast, reaches adult size in a few years.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Scombridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Scomber japonicusScomber australasicusSarda sardaThunnus thynnusKatsuwonus pelamis
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, pelagic
- Preferred bottom
- sand, reef
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the North Atlantic, from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea and Iceland.
- Micro-habitat
- Often found in open waters near coasts and in large schools.
Prefers temperate waters, forming schools extensively offshore.
Presence by sea area
Tirreno NordPeak
Tirreno CentroPeak
Tirreno SudPeak
Adriatico NordPeak
Adriatico CentroPeak
Adriatico SudPeak
Ionio NordPeak
Ionio CentroPeak
Sardegna OvestPeak
Sardegna EstPeak
Sicilia TirrenoPeak
Sicilia Ionio CanalePeak
Eu Mediterraneo OvestPeak
Eu Mediterraneo EstPeak
Eu Atlantico NePeak
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Mare NordPeak
Eu BalticoPeak
Eu ManicaPeak
Eu Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Af BenguelaPeak
Na Atlantico NwPeak
Na Costa Est NordPeak
Na Costa Est CentroPeak
As Mar GiapponePeak
Open Atlantico TempPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- anchovies, sardines, herrings
- Secondary prey
- zooplankton, crustaceans, squids
- Occasional prey
- fish larvae, fish eggs
- Feeding behaviour
- Active predator, hunts in schools swimming fast to overwhelm prey.
- Natural predators
- tuna, dolphins, sharks, seabirds
Diet varies seasonally, adapting to prey availability.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- low
- Migration
- Undergoes extensive seasonal migrations for feeding and spawning.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Moves closer to the coasts for spawning in spring, then migrates to deeper waters in summer.
- Juveniles
- Young form schools with similar-sized individuals for protection.
- Adults
- Adults are tireless migrators, forming large schools for hunting and predator avoidance.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- April, May, June
- Spawning depth
- between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, transparent and light, float in the water column.
- Larval stage
- Larvae are planktonic, developing quickly in nutrient-rich areas.
- Sexual maturity
- varies between 2 and 3 years
When to catch Atlantic mackerel
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, tramonto, mattino
Nightnotte
This species shows peak fishing activity in summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Very active on surface, compact and aggressive schools.
Medium
Regular activity, moves at mid-water.
High
Goes deeper, less accessible from shore.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
6°COptimal zone: 11-18°C22°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
coastal areasriver mouthsreefsopen waters
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
light trollingspinningfeather fishinghandline
Other applicable
Light JiggingSpinningShore JiggingSabiki RigsPesca A Mosca In MareSpinning UltraleggeroSpinning LeggeroSpinning VeloceStreamerBeach FishingBolognese LeggeraPesca A GalleggianteSurfcasting Leggero
Recommended baits
small luresfeathersmetal jigssardines
Baits by pressure
Low
Feather jigMetal jig leggero (20-40g)Piuma biancaSabiki fluorescenteSabiki standardCucchiaino ondulanteJerkbait
Medium
Acciuga vivaGambero morto / GamberoTrancio di sardina
High
Acciuga vivaFeather jigMetal jig leggero (20-40g)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Feisty, but tires quickly once hooked.
- Handling
- Handle carefully to avoid removing scales and use a moist cloth.
- Release
- Release quickly back into the water, preferably without removing it from the water.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- Mackerel catches can exceed 4.4 pounds, especially in the Atlantic. It's popular among sport fishermen in the Mediterranean, known for its speed and stamina when fighting.
- In the kitchen
- Valued very fresh, ideal for grilling and marinating; used in Mediterranean cuisine.
- Cultural notes
- In paintings and literature, symbolizes agility and responsiveness.
- Historical notes
- Traditional mackerel fishing has been practiced throughout the Mediterranean Sea since ancient times.
