Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Scombridae
Description: color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery; yellow spots forming lines above and below a bronze stripe from pectoral fin to base of the tail; front of first dorsal is bluish black; lateral line curves gradually to base of caudal fin
Similar fish: Spanish mackeral, S. maculatus; king mackeral, S. cavalla
Where found: nearshore and offshore fish occurring mainly in south Florida, especially over coral reefs and wrecks
Size: common to 5 pounds
Remarks: unlike other mackerels, does not stray far from south Florida waters; spawns offshore in mid summer; feeds on small fish and squid
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