rough scad
Trachurus lathami
A schooling fish of the shelf, from Canada to northern Argentina, sold fresh and considered good to eat.
Also called: garaçuma, surel, chicharro garretón, rough scad
- maximum
- 40 cm
- record/max.
- 0.5 kg
- depth
- 30–200 m
who is the rough scad
The garaçuma belongs to the jack family (Carangidae) and reaches 40 cm and 500 g. It lives on the continental shelf, in reef areas, between 30 and 200 m. Adults form schools and feed on small invertebrates. Juveniles associate with a jellyfish, Chrysaora lactea, in the southwestern Atlantic, which gives them protection. It is sold fresh in local markets and is considered a good fish to eat.
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 rough scad; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Adults form schools, but are rare around the oceanic islands.
identification
Elongated, slightly compressed body, dark blue on the back and silver below, with a dark spot on the edge of the gill cover. The dorsal fin and the tip of the snout are dark, and the other fins are pale. Eyes are large, with a well-developed adipose eyelid, and the body has small scales. It forms schools on the shelf and, when young, accompanies jellyfish.
Loading the next 7 days…
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
In Latin America it occurs from Venezuela to northern Argentina, in Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico, always in shelf waters.
Habitat: Continental shelf, in reef areas, 30 to 200 m, in schools.
coast
rules for the rough 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.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
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.
It is not dangerous to anglers. As it comes from depths of up to 200 m, watch out for barotrauma when it is brought up.
in the kitchen
Sold fresh in local markets and considered a good fish to eat.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00955, 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: Trachurus lathami (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Trachurus lathamiNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
