Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel
Encyclopedia
Scomberomorus commerson, is a mackerel
of the Scombridae
family. It is found in a wide ranging area centering in South-east Asia but as far west as the east coast of Africa
and from the Middle East
and along the northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean
, and as far east as Fiji
in the South West Pacific ocean. They are common down both sides of Australia
as far south as Perth
on the west coast and Sydney
on the east coast. They are also found as far north as China and even Japan.
and from the Middle East
and along the northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean
, and as far east as Fiji
in the South West Pacific ocean. They are common down both sides of Australia
as far south as Perth
on the west coast and Sydney
on the east coast. They are also found as far north as China and even Japan.
buoyancy and keeps them at the top of the water column which is warmer, well oxygenated and has an
abundant planktonic food supply for the larvae once they are hatched. It is believed that when in the larval
stage, Spanish mackerel stay in their own species-specific groups and are not normally found with other
mackerel larvae species of the same genus, such as S. semifasciatus and S. queenslandicus. This is not
always the case with adult mackerel where occasional mixing of different species within the same genus can
occur.
Spawning is seasonal but it is protracted in the warmer waters of the tropics. Many of the fisheries that target
this species are based on pre-spawning feeding aggregations. A significant proportion of the female fish
caught in NT waters between July and December have either recently spawned or are close to spawning
(Buckworth and Clark 2001). In general, spawning times for Spanish mackerel tend to be associated with
higher water temperatures that promote optimal food availability for the rapid growth and development of the
larvae (Jenkins et al. 1985).
As the young larvae grow they move from the offshore spawning grounds to inshore and estuarine habitats
where they are frequently found in the juvenile phase of their growth cycle. In the inshore environment they
feed mostly on the larvae and juveniles of small fish and crustaceans until they become large enough to
tackle small fish and squid (McPherson 1988). Australian studies of this species suggest that females are
larger than males (McPherson 1992; Buckworth 1998; Mackie et al. 2003). Female Spanish mackerel mature
at about two years of age or at around 80 cm in length.
s. As with other members of the genus, food consists mainly of small fishes with lesser quantities of shrimp
and squid
.
or drifting and from boats, piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs and live-bait fishing
. Commercial methods are primarily run-around gill netting, and rarely, by trolling lures similar to those used by recreational anglers.
South Africa: King Mackerel, Couta, Cuda.
Australia: Narrow-bar, Narrowbarred mackerel, Snook, Spaniard, Spanish mackerel.
USA: Barred mackerel, Narrowbarred mackerel, Striped Seer
Arabia: Kanaad, Kanad or Kana'd
Mackerel
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be...
of the Scombridae
Scombridae
Scombridae is the family of the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and thus includes many of the most important and familiar food fishes. The family consists of about 55 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies...
family. It is found in a wide ranging area centering in South-east Asia but as far west as the east coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and along the northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and as far east as Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in the South West Pacific ocean. They are common down both sides of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as far south as Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
on the west coast and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on the east coast. They are also found as far north as China and even Japan.
Description
They are vivid blue to dark grey in colour along their backs and flanks that fades to a silvery blue grey on the belly. Spanish mackerel have scores of narrow, vertical lines down the sides. Spanish mackerel are the largest of all Australian mackerels growing to approximately 200cm and up to 70 kg.Distribution/habitat
It is found in a wide ranging area centering in South-east Asia but as far west as the east coast of AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and along the northern coastal areas of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, and as far east as Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in the South West Pacific ocean. They are common down both sides of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as far south as Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
on the west coast and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on the east coast. They are also found as far north as China and even Japan.
Life
Spanish mackerel spawn in oceanic conditions on reef edges. Eggs have a large oil droplet that aids inbuoyancy and keeps them at the top of the water column which is warmer, well oxygenated and has an
abundant planktonic food supply for the larvae once they are hatched. It is believed that when in the larval
stage, Spanish mackerel stay in their own species-specific groups and are not normally found with other
mackerel larvae species of the same genus, such as S. semifasciatus and S. queenslandicus. This is not
always the case with adult mackerel where occasional mixing of different species within the same genus can
occur.
Spawning is seasonal but it is protracted in the warmer waters of the tropics. Many of the fisheries that target
this species are based on pre-spawning feeding aggregations. A significant proportion of the female fish
caught in NT waters between July and December have either recently spawned or are close to spawning
(Buckworth and Clark 2001). In general, spawning times for Spanish mackerel tend to be associated with
higher water temperatures that promote optimal food availability for the rapid growth and development of the
larvae (Jenkins et al. 1985).
As the young larvae grow they move from the offshore spawning grounds to inshore and estuarine habitats
where they are frequently found in the juvenile phase of their growth cycle. In the inshore environment they
feed mostly on the larvae and juveniles of small fish and crustaceans until they become large enough to
tackle small fish and squid (McPherson 1988). Australian studies of this species suggest that females are
larger than males (McPherson 1992; Buckworth 1998; Mackie et al. 2003). Female Spanish mackerel mature
at about two years of age or at around 80 cm in length.
Feeding habits
Spanish mackerel are voracious, opportunistic, carnivoreCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
s. As with other members of the genus, food consists mainly of small fishes with lesser quantities of shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
and squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
.
Fishing gear and methods
Spanish mackerel are a highly valued fish throughout their range in the Indo West Pacific. Recreational anglers catch Spanish mackerel from boats while trollingTroll (angling)
Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, e.g. when fishing from...
or drifting and from boats, piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs and live-bait fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Commercial methods are primarily run-around gill netting, and rarely, by trolling lures similar to those used by recreational anglers.
Some Common Names
Worldwide: Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel.South Africa: King Mackerel, Couta, Cuda.
Australia: Narrow-bar, Narrowbarred mackerel, Snook, Spaniard, Spanish mackerel.
USA: Barred mackerel, Narrowbarred mackerel, Striped Seer
Arabia: Kanaad, Kanad or Kana'd