Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède, 1800)

Brackish, Marine, Fishery

Depending on temperature regime, the spawning season may be more or less extended. In Australian waters, each female spawns several times over the season, about 2 to 6 days apart , depending on the locality. Spanish mackerel spawn off the reef slopes and edges, and they form spawning aggregations in specific areas .

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

This species is known in Australia to undertake lengthy longshore migrations, which extend along the entire east coast of Queensland. But permanently resident populations also seem to exist. The resident fish simply disperse from the reefs after spawning, while the migrating fish move up to 1000 nautical miles to the south . On the Queensland east coast, migration from the Lizard Island-Townsville area takes place ater the spawning season when a significant proportion of 2 and 3-year-old fish moves southwards. A return migration of 3 and 4-year-old fish comences during winter . On the west coast, the mackerel follow the 22-24°C isotherm , generally moving south in the late summer and north during the winter. The migration route in the Gulf of Thailand has been mapped . Feeding apparently occurs day and night. In north Queensland, small juveniles up to 10 m FL live in creeks, estuaries and along areas of sheltered mud flats in the early wet season (December-January) . Juveniles of 15-40 cm FL are caught by prawn trawlers working shallow water during February and March . After

Anisakis Disease (juvenile). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Anisakis Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Caligus Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Callitetrarhynchus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Gotocotyla Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Gotocotyla Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Grillotia sp. Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Otobothrium Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Pricea Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Pseudocycnoides Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; ; ; ; ; ;

Habitat pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; marine; depth range 10 - 70 m

Not Evaluated IUCN 2006

fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: very high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species