Chub mackerel

Scomber japonicus

A widespread mackerel of temperate and warm seas, schooling from coasts to offshore waters with a wavy dark back pattern.

Key facts

Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is a carnivore animal classified as Fish · Scombriformes · Scombridae.
Primary habitats are coast · open ocean, with a range across Pacific Ocean · Atlantic Ocean · Indian Ocean · Palearctic · Nearctic.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is herd, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A widespread mackerel of temperate and warm seas, schooling from coasts to offshore waters with a wavy dark back pattern.
Occurs in coastal and offshore surface waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, migrating seasonally with temperature and prey.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Occurs in coastal and offshore surface waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, migrating seasonally with temperature and prey.

The body is spindle-shaped with dark wavy lines on the back and silvery lower sides. Small side spots may be present.

Large schools feed from the surface to midwater and tighten when predators approach.

It eats zooplankton, small fish, and squid. Young fish rely more on plankton, while adults take more fish prey.

Adults release floating eggs in warm seasons. Eggs and larvae drift near the surface before juveniles join schools.

Chub mackerel is a major food fish in many regions, used fresh, canned, dried, and salted.