Description

The scientific name of the mackerel caught in the north Atlantic is Scomber scombrus. The scientific name of the chub mackerel, a related species found in warmer waters in many parts of the world, is Scomber japonicus. Other species of Scomber, and species of Scomberomorus, Auxis and Rastrelliger are also described as mackerel in many parts of the world.

Common name

The name mackerel is used in the UK principally for the species Scomber scombrus, but the name can also be used in the UK for any species of Scomber offered for retail sale.

Scomber scombrus is sometimes called Atlantic, northern or Boston mackerel to distinguish it from Scomber japonicus, which is variously called chub, Pacific, or Spanish mackerel.

A small mackerel is sometimes called a cock mackerel, a joey or a little boy in England, or a pinner in Scotland.

The Atlantic mackerel has a rounded, elongated body with two widely spaced back fins, the first with 11-13 spiny rays, the second with soft rays; the chub mackerel has 9-10 spines in the first back fin. There are 4-6, usually 5, finlets between the second back fin and the rail, and between the anal fin and the tail, There is a small keel on each side of the tail stub. The tail is forked.

The back of the mackerel is a brilliant greeny blue, and the head is a steely blue-black with a small yellow patch behind the eye. There are 23-33 dark wavy bands across the back of the fish down to the midline. The sides have a silvery or coppery sheen, the belly is silvery white and there is a broken black line just below the lateral line.

The scales are small and the skin feels velvety. There is a swimbladder in the chub mackerel but not in the Atlantic mackerel.