Fish diurnal

Atlantic Chub Mackerel

Scomber colias

A shimmering spectacle of the Atlantic, the Chub Mackerel is a master of speed and social coordination. With its striking 'tiger-stripe' back and silver underbelly, this energetic wanderer brings the pulse of the open ocean to our coastal shores.

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Quick Identification

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Size

20–30 cm (8–12 inches) on average, though they can reach up to 50 cm (20 inches); weight is typically 0.5–1 kg (1.1–2.2 lbs).

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Colors

Iridescent blue-green upper body with distinct dark, wavy zig-zag lines; silver-white belly characterized by small, dusky spots or blotches.

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Key Features

Wavy dark bars across the iridescent back
Small dusky spots on the lower sides and belly
Large eyes with a prominent adipose eyelid
Two widely separated dorsal fins

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 4-8 PM

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Season June-September

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Diet A versatile feeder that consumes zooplankton and small crustaceans like copepods, but shifts to hunting small fish and squid as it matures.

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Habitat Pelagic ocean waters and coastal regions; often found over continental shelves, near piers, and within large bays.

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Behavior

The Atlantic Chub Mackerel is a high-energy, pelagic schooling fish that is almost constantly in motion. Traveling in massive, synchronized groups, they use collective movement as a primary defense strategy against predators like tuna, sharks, and dolphins. These schools are often size-segregated, meaning you will typically find individuals of the same age and size swimming together in a tight-knit formation.

Highly migratory, these fish follow warm water currents and food availability, moving toward the coast in the summer and heading to deeper, offshore waters as temperatures drop in the winter. While they are often focused on foraging, they are naturally curious and will investigate disturbances in the water, especially if they perceive the flash of light as a potential meal or a fellow school member.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Atlantic Chub Mackerel requires a specialized approach since your camera must be submerged. If you have a coastal backyard or access to a dock, mount your waterproof trail camera or action camera to a weighted PVC rig or a dock piling about 3 to 6 feet below the low-tide line. The goal is to capture the upper water column where these fish prefer to school. Angle the camera slightly downward to reduce surface glare and ensure the light from the sun illuminates the iridescent scales of the fish.

To ensure you get more than just empty blue water, use a 'chum' lure or a shiny attractor. A small mesh bag filled with crushed sardines or oily fish scraps tied just out of the frame will draw a school in and keep them hovering in front of your lens for minutes at a time. Alternatively, hanging a few highly reflective metal spoons or spinners on a fishing line in the camera’s view can mimic the flash of prey and trigger their curiosity.

Because mackerel are incredibly fast swimmers, standard trail camera trigger speeds may be too slow, resulting in a 'ghost' or a tail-only shot. It is best to set your camera to a video loop mode or use high-speed burst settings with a fast shutter speed. If your camera has a 'time-lapse' feature, set it to take a photo every 5-10 seconds during the peak morning and evening hours when they are most likely to move through coastal shallows. This is a great way to monitor school density and timing without exhausting your battery life.

Pay attention to the water clarity; after a heavy storm, the water may be too turbid for a clear shot. The best footage usually comes on calm, sunny days when the light can penetrate deep into the water, highlighting the intricate zig-zag patterns on their backs. If your camera setup allows for it, a polarizing filter can significantly improve clarity by cutting down on the reflections within the water column.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Atlantic Chub Mackerel.

Atlantic Mackerel

Lacks the dusky spots on the belly found on the Chub Mackerel and has a more organized pattern of bars on its back.

Chub Mackerel

This is the Pacific version (Scomber japonicus); they look almost identical but are geographically separated by the Americas.

Frigate Tuna

Has a similar metallic blue-green back but is much stockier and possesses a distinct 'corselet' of scales near the head.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during the daylight hours, particularly at dawn and dusk. During these 'crepuscular' windows, they move higher in the water column to feed on plankton and small fish that are migrating toward the surface.

Use shiny, reflective objects like fishing spoons or mirrors to grab their attention. You can also use a chum bag filled with oily fish parts to create a scent trail that leads the school directly to your camera's location.

Their diet consists of zooplankton, small crustaceans, and tiny fish. They use their gill rakers to filter smaller organisms from the water but will actively hunt larger prey as they grow.

Yes, they are very common in coastal areas during the late spring, summer, and early autumn when water temperatures rise. They often congregate around piers, jetties, and harbor entrances.

The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the belly. The Atlantic Chub Mackerel has small, dusky spots and blotches on its lower sides and belly, whereas the standard Atlantic Mackerel has a clean, silvery-white underside.

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