Saltwater · Year-round in Florida; best May to October around reefs and piers

Round Scad

Decapterus punctatus

A slender jack best known as the 'cigar minnow' — frozen and live round scad are a staple offshore bait for king mackerel, sailfish and tuna. It is also a catchable target in its own right on sabiki rigs, and a row of small dark spots along the lateral line identifies it.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Round Scad — Photo: H. L. Todd, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons (Historical scientific illustration — the only clear Commons image of this species.)

Identifying features

Row of small dark spots along the straight part of the lateral line
Slender, cigar-shaped body with a deeply forked tail
Silvery below and bluish-green above, with a yellowish tail fin
Small mouth and large eyes for its size
A small fleshy finlet behind the dorsal and anal fins

Habits

Forms dense schools over reefs and around structure
Feeds on plankton and small crustaceans at the surface and in midwater
Most common in warm water, moving inshore in summer
A premier live bait — lively on a hook and fairly hardy in a live well
Also sold frozen as a staple offshore trolling and bottom-fishing bait

Distribution

Tampa, FL · Florida★ Primary

Daytona Beach, FL · Florida★ Primary

Charleston, SC · North & South CarolinaCommon

Venice, LA · Louisiana & Gulf ShoreCommon

Emerald Coast, FL · FloridaCommon

Where to find them

Atlantic Florida reefs and wrecks from Miami to Jacksonville
Piers and buoys along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts
Carolina and Louisiana nearshore reefs in summer

Where they live

Nearshore reefs and wrecks in 30-100 ft (9-30 m) of waterAround piers, buoys and channel markersOpen water over sandy bottom off Atlantic and Gulf beaches

How to catch them

Sabiki rigs over reefs and piers Shore

Rig: Light spinning rod with a multi-hook sabiki rig and a small sinker, jigged gently over reefs, wrecks and pier pilings

Bait/lure: Sabiki rigs, tiny shrimp pieces

Key tip: Jig slowly in midwater — scad bite best when the school is under the boat or pier, and they are premier live bait, so move them to the live well quickly.

Small jigs cast to surface schools Boat

Rig: Ultralight to light spinning tackle with a small silver jig or spoon cast to rippling surface schools

Bait/lure: Small jigs and spoons

Key tip: Cast past the school and reel fast with short twitches; keep the lure near the surface.

Best baits & lures

Sabiki rigs with tiny gold hooksSmall silver jigs and spoonsTiny pieces of shrimp or squid on small hooks

Techniques for Round Scad →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light 6-7 ft spinning rod
Line: 6-10 lb mono or braid
Terminal: Sabiki rigs, small jigs and a live well for bait

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 6-9 in (15-23 cm); large fish to about 12 in (30 cm)

On the table

Fair but oily — mainly used as bait; eaten fresh or grilled in some cuisines.

Similar species

Blue RunnerBlue runner is deeper-bodied and larger with no row of spots along the lateral line; round scad is slimmer, cigar-shaped and spotted along the line

Scaled SardineScaled sardine is a flat, deep herring-like fish with a dark shoulder spot and no lateral-line spots; round scad is rounder, jack-like and fork-tailed

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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