Latin name

Scomberomorus sierra

Other names

Pacific sierra; Spanish: macarela, serrucho, sierra, verle.

Identification

It is similar in appearance to the Spanish mackerel.

Distribution

The Pacific sierra mackerel is a fish found in abundance in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Mexico and Central America. It should not be confused with the Atlantic sierra (Scomberomorus brasiliensis), which is found only in the Atlantic. Pacific sierra mackerel are distributed from La Jolla in Southern California south to the Galápagos Islands and to Paita, Peru. They have also been reported from Antofagasta, Chile.

Habitat

The Pacific sierra mackerel is a schooling species and can be found in surface coastal waters and on the bottom of the continental shelf.

Size

The world record for all-tackle fishing is held by an Ecuadorian fish weighing 18 pounds, caught in 1990.

Life history and Behavior

They are believed to spawn near the coast.

Food and feeding habits

Feed on small fish, especially anchovies.

Reproduction

No information