Fish Identification Photos: Pacific Mackerel, Chub Mackerel, Scomber japonicus: The Pacific Mackerel is a small highly energetic prized live bait characterized by its elongated round “tube-like” body, blue-green wavy lines on top, and silver with no lines on its sides. The Pacific Mackerel has well separated dorsal fins and two small keels on each side of the base of the caudal fin. There are very small finlets between both the dorsal fin and the caudal fin, and between the anal fin and the caudal fin. The Pacific Mackerel is not easily confused with any other species.

The Pacific Mackerel is a member of the Scombridae or Tuna, Bonito, and Mackerel Family found in Mexican waters. The Pacific Mackerel is a coastal, oceanic, pelagic schooling species that is very seasonal, leaving warm waters during the summer time. It is found along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, along mainland Mexico south of Acapulco, and around the Revillagigedos islands. The Pacific Mackerel is normally found “down deep” from 400 to 600 feet. It is reported to reach a length of over 24-inches (which is rare, with 12-inch models most common).

The Pacific Mackerel is readily caught by the hundreds utilizing Sabiki Rigs (known locally as “Lucky Joe Rigs”) off the bottom in deep water over sandy terrain.

The Pacific Mackerel is viewed by locals as a prized live bait that is either flylined, slow trolled, or send down deep with a bottom rig attached to a 7/0 hook.

Fresh frozen Pacific Mackerel are available on a limited basis during the summer and used in a similar manner, and also used as decoys to attract large surface fish, but slightly modified with a cut down both sides to expose the meat. The Pacific Mackerel is also used on a limited basis as a “cut bait” but does not work well because it “falls apart” very easily.

Pacific Mackerel, Scomber japonicus: Caught on a Lucky Joe rig at the boca of San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico. Photo courtesy Gene Kira.