shortfin scad
Decapterus macrosoma
Small schooling scad, blue-metallic on the back, which feeds on small invertebrates and zooplankton. It is widely used as bait.
Also called: carapau-de-nadadeira-curta, macarela alicorta, jurel fino, shortfin scad
- maximum
- 35 cm
- depth
- 30–70 m
who is the shortfin scad
The shortfin mackerel scad is of the family Carangidae, with a slender body, elongated and nearly round in cross section. It reaches 35 cm, and its common size is 25 cm. It forms pelagic schools and appears on reef slopes near deep water, mostly between 30 and 70 m, within a range of 20 to 214 m. It feeds mainly on small invertebrates and zooplankton. It occurs in several oceans and, in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru. It is fished commercially, used mainly as bait, and also sold fresh, salted or dried.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the shortfin scad; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Slender body, elongated and nearly round in cross section, blue-metallic on the back and silvery on the belly, with translucent fins. It has a small black spot on the gill cover, and the dorsal and anal fins are followed by a small detached fin. The scutes along the body are numerous. It is much more slender than other scads and jacks of similar shape, and that helps tell it apart.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Eastern Pacific of Latin America, from the Gulf of California, in Mexico, to Peru, on reef slopes and coastal waters; the species also occurs in other oceans.
Habitat: Reef slopes near deep water, mostly between 30 and 70 m, in pelagic schools.
rules for the shortfin scad
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers has been recorded. If you are not going to use it as bait, release the fish carefully.
in the kitchen
It is often sold fresh, salted or dried, but it is mainly used as bait.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00977, b = 2.97; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Decapterus macrosoma (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Decapterus macrosomaNames by country and language.
