Mackerel Totally Explained

Everything about Mackerel totally explained

Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They occur in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), enter bays and can be caught near bridges and piers. The largest species called "mackerel" is the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) which can grow to 66 inches (1.68 m). Common features of mackerels are a slim, cylindrical shape (as opposed to the tunas which are deeper bodied) and numerous finlets on the dorsal and ventral sides behind the dorsal and anal fins. The scales are extremely small, if present. A female mackerel lays about 500,000 eggs at a time. Shearwater, tuna, dolphins, whales, orca, seagulls, marlins, sharks, and humans may hunt mackerels. Mackerels are prized (and are highly harvested) for their meat, which is often very oily. They are known for their fighting ability, and are an important recreational and commercial fishery. The meat can spoil quickly, especially in the tropics, causing scombroid food poisoning - it must be eaten on the day of capture, unless cured. For this reason, mackerel is the only common salt-cured sushi. This fish is highly valued by fisheries. Mackerel fishery is well established in India, the species caught is usually Rastrelliger kanagurta.

Species whose common name includes "mackerel"

Family Scombridae

Family Carangidae

Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus

Blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus

Cape horse mackerel Trachurus capensis

Cunene horse mackerel Trachurus trecae

Greenback horse mackerel Trachurus declivis

Japanese horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus

Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus

Jack mackerel Trachurus symmetricus Family Hexagrammidae

Okhostk Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus azonus

Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius Family Gempylidae

Black snake mackerel Nealotus tripes

Blacksail snake mackerel Thyrsitoides marleyi

Snake mackerel Gempylus serpens

Violet snake mackerel Nesiarchus nasutus

White snake mackerel Thyrsitops lepidopoides

Use as an adjective

"Mackerel" is also used as an adjective in the vernacular names of other animals or breeds thereof, often used to indicate types with a mackerel-like pattern of vertical stripes:

Mackerel icefish - Champsocephalus gunnari

Mackerel pike - Cololabis saira

Mackerel scad - Decapterus macarellus

Mackerel shark - several species

Sharp-nose mackerel shark - Isurus oxyrinchus

Mackerel trevalla - Seriolella punctata

Mackerel tuna - Euthynnus affinis

Mackerel tabby cat - Felis silvestris catus

Mackerel Tail Goldfish - Carassius auratusFurther Information

Get more info on 'Mackerel'.

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