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Scombridae
Pacific Mackerel
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Field guide · §4.9

Pacific Mackerel

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Scomber japonicus
Scombridae
Water
60-70°F
Best time
Dawn
Tide
Any
12" minTolerates 55-74°F
Robert's pick

How to catch a pacific mackerel

Bait
Optional cut squid on bottom sabiki hook for bigger fish
Rig
Sabiki size 6, 1 oz weight
Technique
Drop straight down under pier lights, jig the rig with small lifts.
When they bite
Tide preference
Any with active bait
Time of day
Dawn, dusk, night
Pressure
Any
Sources
  • · CDFW Mackerel species page
  • · NOAA Coastal Pelagic Species FMP
Full citations in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.9.
← All species·§4.9 in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md

Pacific Mackerel

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Scomber japonicus
ScombridaePrefers 60–70°F12" min
Habitat & range

Where they live

CA range
Worldwide temperate-tropical; SoCal year-round
Habitat types
Sandy pierSandy pier (deep)Inner harborJetty into sand
Water temp
60–70°F preferred · tolerant 55–74°F
Life history

Biology

Lifespan~7 years
SpawningSpring (March–May), offshore
DietAnchovy, krill, copepods, fish larvae
Behavior

When they bite

Tide preferenceAny with active bait
Time of dayDawn, dusk, night
Pressure biasAny
Field ID

How to identify

Iridescent green-blue back with wavy black bars ("tabby cat" pattern), silver belly. Pacific mackerel is shorter and stouter than Jack Mackerel.

Look-alikes

Jack Mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus) — longer body, less vivid markings, scutes (bony plates) along lateral line

Robert's pick

How to catch

Best baitOptional cut squid on bottom sabiki hook for bigger fish
Best rigSabiki size 6, 1 oz weight
TechniqueDrop straight down under pier lights, jig the rig with small lifts.
California regulations
Min size12"
No bag limit specifically (general gear regulations apply)

Always verify current regulations on the CDFW site.

Where to fish for Pacific Mackerel

SoCal hotspots

Top spots from the doc: Every pier and harbor in SoCal
All spots in the TideRead catalog that target Mackerel (25):
22nd Street Landing
San Pedro · Los Angeles
Balboa Pier
Newport Beach · Orange County
Belmont Pier
Long Beach · Los Angeles
Cabrillo Pier · San Pedro
San Pedro · Los Angeles
Crystal Pier
Pacific Beach · San Diego
Embarcadero
San Diego · San Diego
Gaviota Pier
Gaviota · Santa Barbara
Goleta Beach Pier
Goleta · Santa Barbara
Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach · Orange County
Imperial Beach Pier
Imperial Beach · San Diego
King Harbor
Redondo Beach · Los Angeles
Leadbetter Beach
Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara
Malibu Pier
Malibu · Los Angeles
Manhattan Beach Pier
Manhattan Beach · Los Angeles
Ocean Beach Pier
Ocean Beach · San Diego
Oceanside Pier
Oceanside · San Diego
Port Hueneme Pier
Port Hueneme · Ventura
Redondo Beach Pier
Redondo Beach · Los Angeles
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica · Los Angeles
Scripps Pier
La Jolla · San Diego
Shelter Island Pier
San Diego · San Diego
Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara
Topaz Street Jetty
Redondo Beach · Los Angeles
Venice Pier
Venice · Los Angeles
Ventura Pier
Ventura · Ventura
Did you know

Pacific mackerel is the most-caught pier species in California by sheer count — far more than halibut or any other 'target' species.

Sources
  • · CDFW Mackerel species page
  • · NOAA Coastal Pelagic Species FMP
Full citations + cross-references in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.9.