(Cuvier, 1829); SCOMBRIDAE FAMILY; also
called kingfish, giant mackerel
Found in the western Atlantic Ocean in
tropical and subtropical waters, it ranges
from Maine in the U.S. to Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, and is
common around south Florida in the winter
months. This migratory species is constantly
on the move. Stocks wintering in Florida
migrate as far west as Texas and as far
north as Virginia during the summer. It also
occurs around south Florida in the spring
and early summer months.
A coastal, pelagic, schooling species, it is
usually found in waters of 10 20 fathoms.
Occasionally it may be caught from ocean
piers and around inlets. Congregations often
occur around wrecks, buoys, coral reefs, and
other such areas where food is abundant.
Schools vary in size and the largest
individuals are usually loners.
They can be distinguished from other Spanish
mackerels in the western Atlantic by the
sharp dip in the lateral line under the
second dorsal fin, by the relatively small
number of spines in the first dorsal fin (14
16). The young have spots similar to those
in the Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus
maculatus, but these spots disappear with
age. The first dorsal fin is uniformly blue;
the anterior third of this fin is never
black as it is in the Spanish mackerel and
the cero mackerel, S. regalis.
This is an important species, both
commercially and as a sport fish. Fishing
methods include trolling or drifting either
deep or on the surface using strip baits,
lures, or small whole baits as well as
casting and live bait fishing. Balao,
mullet, jacks, herring, pinfish, croakers,
shrimp, spoons, feathers, jigs, and plugs
have proven effective under various
conditions, as have such combinations as
feather strip bait and skirt strip bait.
Chumming works well to attract and hold
these fish
