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Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782
Chub Mackerel
Family: Scombridae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Brian Klinkenberg     (Photo ID #12353)

Map

Source: Distribution of Scomber japonicus as compiled by Aquamaps

Introduction


Mackerel are in the tuna family, which includes tuna and mackerel. According to a study conducted for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for the Pacific or Chub Mackerel in 2009 (Crone et al. 2009), there are "possibly three spawning ‘stocks’ along the Pacific coasts of the USA and Mexico: one in the Gulf of California; one in the vicinity of Cabo San Lucas; and one along the Pacific coast north of Punta Abreojos, Baja California and extending north to waters off southern California and further, off the Pacific Northwest depending on oceanographic conditions (say regimes)". They rarely spawn north of Point Conception in California although young-of-year fish have been reported as far north as Oregon and Washington (Crone et al. 2009). According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2009), in BC, species of mackerel are "frequently encountered off the west coast of Vancouver Island during years when warm waters from the El Niño current are prevalent. They are rarely found inside the Strait of Georgia." Pacific mackerel is most frequently caught within 30 km of shore, but is sometimes caught as far as 400 km offshore (Crone et al. 2009).

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 31. Interpelvic process small and single. No well developed corselet. Swim bladder present. First haemal spine posterior to first interneural process; 12 to 15 interneural bones under first dorsal fin. Anal fin spine conspicuous, clearly separated from anal rays but joined to them by a membrane. Back with narrow stripes which zigzag and undulate. Belly unmarked (Pacific population) or with wavy lines (Atlantic pop.) (Ref. 168). Caudal peduncle with 5 finlets on the upper and lower edge. Distance between dorsal fins shorter than or equal to the first dorsal fin base (Ref. 35388).

Source: FishBase. Collette, B.B. and C.E Nauen. 1983 . (Ref. 168)

Biology

Species Biology

A coastal pelagic species, to a lesser extent epipelagic to mesopelagic over the continental slope (Ref. 168). Schooling by size is well developed and initiates at approximately 3 cm (Ref. 168); may also form schools with Sarda chiliensis, Trachurus symmetricus and Sardinops sagax (Ref. 9340). Adults stay near the bottom during the day; go up to the open water at night, (Ref. 5377) where they feed on copepods and other crustaceans, fishes and squids (Ref. 168). They spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). In Asian waters, they move to deeper water and remain inactive during the winter season (Ref. 4576). Environment: pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 168), usually 50 - 200 m (Ref. 35185) Climate: subtropical; 10 – 27°C (Ref. 35185); 60°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E

Source: FishBase. Collette, B.B. and C.E Nauen. 1983 . (Ref. 168)

Distribution

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: anti-tropical, absent from Indian Ocean except for South Africa, KZN to Western Cape (58304). Replaced by Scomber colias Gmelin 1789 in the Atlantic. Scomber australasicus found in the Red Sea and nothern Indian Ocean and distribution overlaps with Scomber japonicus (Ref. 9684).

Source: FishBase. Collette, B.B. and C.E Nauen. 1983 . (Ref. 168)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed



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Additional Range and Status Information Links

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