Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is a fast, powerful hunter that can reach 240 cm in length and weigh up to 70 kg, making it one of the largest mackerels divers will encounter.

Also known as: scomberomorus commerson, barred mackerel, barred seer fish, barred spanish mackerel, commerson's mackerel, cybium, doggie, katonkel barracuda kuda, king mackerel, king seer, kingfish, mackerel, macko, narrow barred spanish mackerel, narrow-bar, narrow-barred king mackerel, narrow-striped king mackerel, narrowbarred mackerel, seer, seer fish, snook, spaniard, spanish mackerel, striped seer

Several mackerel species in the region look similar at a glance. Look at the lateral line, the sensory stripe running along its flank: on this species it bends sharply downward near the tail instead of running in a straight line.

This fish has a long, streamlined body, flattened from side to side. Its back is a vivid blue to dark grey, fading to a silvery blue-grey on the belly. Numerous thin, wavy vertical bars run down its flanks. Young fish often show spots instead of bars.

Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel roam near the edge of the continental shelf and in shallow coastal waters, including drop-offs and gently sloping reef and lagoon areas, from 10 to 70 m deep. They often turn up in murky, low-salinity water near river mouths as well as clearer reef edges.

This is a voracious, opportunistic hunter that feeds mainly on small fish, along with squid and shrimp. It usually hunts alone, cruising along coastal slopes rather than schooling tightly. Spawning happens over reef edges in warmer seasons, and the young later move inshore to estuaries and coastal shallows to grow.

reports of ciguatera poisoning

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  Atlantic Mackerel

  Scomber scombrus

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  Atlantic Spanish Mackerel

  Scomberomorus maculatus

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  Blue mackerel

  Scomber australasicus

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  Dogtooth Tuna

  Gymnosarda unicolor

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  Indian mackerel

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  Acanthocybium solandri