monterey spanish mackerel
Scomberomorus concolor
Mackerel endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, caught with nets in estuaries and salt marshes. It is a species in a delicate situation.
Also called: cavala-do-golfo, sierra golfina, sierra del golfo, monterey spanish mackerel
- maximum
- 77 cm
- record/max.
- 3.6 kg
who is the monterey spanish mackerel
The Gulf mackerel is a mackerel of the family Scombridae, endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico. It lives near the coast, in estuaries and salt marshes, and reaches 77 cm and 3.6 kg. Males have no spots or stripes, while females have two alternating rows of brown spots on their flanks. Outside the Gulf, the species is no longer found, and commercial gillnet fishing acts on a remnant of the original population. Its biology is almost unknown.
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 monterey spanish mackerel; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, spindle-shaped body, covered in small scales, without an armored plate at the front. Females have two alternating rows of brown spots on their flanks, and males have no spots or stripes. It looks like the Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra), of the same genus, but the Gulf mackerel is endemic and lives in a very restricted area in the northern Gulf.
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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
Endemic to the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, where it occurs in coastal waters and estuaries.
Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries and salt marshes of the northern Gulf of California.
rules for the monterey spanish mackerel
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.
Poses no danger to anglers. It is a species in a delicate situation: if it is caught by mistake, return it carefully.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00832, b = 3.03; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Scomberomorus concolor (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scomberomorus concolorNames by country and language.
