Saltwater · Summer and early autumn; night shoals under pier lights
Atlantic Horse Mackerel
Trachurus trachurus
The Atlantic horse mackerel is the Atlantic member of the jack mackerel genus — a hard-fighting, plentiful shoal fish of summer piers and party boats. It is a DIFFERENT species from the Pacific's Japanese jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus), and also distinct from the Pacific jack mackerel (T. symmetricus): this is the Atlantic Trachurus. UK anglers call it scad; in French it is chinchard and in Spanish jurel.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Elongated silvery body with a green-blue back and a forked tail
- The whole lateral line is armed with a ridge of bony scutes, tallest near the tail
- A small black spot on the upper edge of the gill cover
- Two well-separated dorsal fins, the first tall and spiny
- Large eyes with a partial transparent (adipose) eyelid
Habits
- Forms big, tight shoals in midwater and over the bottom
- Comes inshore in summer and gathers under pier lights after dark
- Feeds on small fish, prawns, squid and crustaceans
- Moves off into deeper water in winter
- Shoals often herd baitfish to the surface, drawing birds and bass
Distribution
Where to find them
- Summer piers and breakwaters at dusk and after dark
- Party-boat feathering grounds over mixed ground
- Headland rips where shoals herd baitfish
Where they live
How to catch them
Feathering and sabiki from the pier at night Shore
Rig: A string of 4-6 feather hooks (size 6-10) above a small lead, jigged along the pier and through the pool of lamplight
Bait/lure: Bare feathers, or pinhead pieces of mackerel or prawn
Key tip: Fish after dark when the shoals slide into the light; work the string slowly, as scad take on the rise.
Feathering midwater shoals from a boat Boat
Rig: Boat rod with a feather string or sabiki rig, lowered to shoals marked on the sounder over mixed ground and worked at their depth
Bait/lure: Feather strings, sabiki rigs or small metal jigs
Key tip: Count the string down to repeat the same depth — the shoal will hold on one layer.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light-medium 8-10 ft spinning or pier rod
- Line: 10-15 lb mono or braid
- Terminal: Feather/sabiki strings size 6-10, small leads and floats
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 10-14 in (25-35 cm), about 0.5-1 lb (0.2-0.5 kg); large fish to about 24 in (60 cm)
On the table
Good — oily and full-flavoured; grilled, pickled or smoked, and a prime bait for bass, conger and tope.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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