Fish · Near Threatened
Mackerel
About
The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel belongs to the family Scombridae and ranges widely, with Southeast Asia at the centre of its distribution. It extends west to the east coast of Africa and the Middle East, follows the northern shores of the Indian Ocean, and reaches east into the South West Pacific.
- Family
- Scombridae
- Avg size
- 100-150 cm
- Habitat
- Centred on Southeast Asia, the species spreads west to the African east coast and the Persian Gulf, along the northern Indian Ocean coastline, and east as far as Fiji. It is common along both Australian coasts, reaching Perth in the west and Sydney in the east, and ranges north to China and Japan. After first being recorded in the Mediterranean in 1935, it has become abundant in the eastern Levant, where it is now an important catch for local fisheries.
- Behaviour
- These are aggressive, opportunistic hunters. Like others in the genus, they take mostly small fish, supplemented by smaller amounts of shrimp and squid.
Where & when
Where & When to See It
Shaab El Erg
occasionalOct–AprSmall Giftun
occasionalOct–AprThe Ulysses
occasionalOct–AprUmm Gamar North
occasionalOct–AprAbu Hashish
occasionalOct–AprAbu Nuhas
occasionalOct–AprAbu Ramada North
occasionalOct–AprAbu Ramada South
occasionalOct–AprBelina Wreck
occasionalOct–AprBig Giftun
occasionalOct–AprCareless Reef
occasionalOct–AprCarnatic
occasionalOct–AprChrisoula K
occasionalOct–AprDunraven (Beacon Rock)
occasionalOct–AprEl Erug
occasionalOct–AprEl Fanadir
occasionalOct–AprEl Fanous West
occasionalOct–AprErg Abu Ramada
occasionalOct–AprErg Sabina
occasionalOct–AprFar Garden
occasionalOct–AprFiddle Garden
occasionalOct–AprGiannis D
occasionalOct–AprGordon Reef
occasionalOct–AprHamda
occasionalOct–AprKimon M
occasionalOct–AprLaguna Reef
occasionalOct–AprNear Garden
occasionalOct–AprParadise
occasionalOct–AprPinky Wall
occasionalOct–AprRas Bob
occasionalOct–AprRas Burg
occasionalOct–AprRas Ghamila
occasionalOct–AprRas Ghozlani
occasionalOct–AprRas Katy
occasionalOct–AprRas Nasrani
occasionalOct–AprRas Zaatar
occasionalOct–AprRosalie Moller
occasionalOct–AprShaab Abu Nugar
occasionalOct–AprShaab Eissa
occasionalOct–AprShaab Sabina
occasionalOct–AprShabrur Um Gamar
occasionalOct–AprShag Rock (Kingston)
occasionalOct–AprShark & Yolanda Reef
occasionalOct–AprShark Observatory
occasionalOct–AprSmall Crack
occasionalOct–AprSodfa
occasionalOct–AprSoma Bay Garden
occasionalOct–AprTemple
occasionalOct–AprThe Alternatives
occasionalOct–AprThe Barge at Bluff Point
occasionalOct–AprThistlegorm
occasionalOct–AprThomas Reef
occasionalOct–AprTower
occasionalOct–AprTurft El Shahed
occasionalOct–AprTurtle Bay
occasionalOct–AprTurtle Reef
occasionalOct–AprUmm Gamar South
occasionalOct–AprWhite Knight
occasionalOct–AprWoodhouse Reef
occasionalOct–AprAmphoras
occasionalOct–AprBanana Reef
occasionalOct–AprBluff Point
occasionalOct–AprEel Garden
occasionalOct–AprEl Mina Wreck
occasionalOct–AprGota Abu Ramada
occasionalOct–AprJackfish Alley
occasionalOct–AprJackson Reef
occasionalOct–AprKormoran
occasionalOct–AprMiddle Garden
occasionalOct–AprNorth Gabr El Bint
occasionalOct–AprRas Disha
occasionalOct–AprRas Um Sid
occasionalOct–AprShaab Eshta
occasionalOct–AprShaab Petra
occasionalOct–AprShark's Bay
occasionalOct–AprSiyul Kebira
occasionalOct–AprErg Somaya
commonOct–AprSS Turkia
Panorama Reef