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catalog Scombridae · predator

atlantic spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Sea

The Spanish mackerel of the Gulf of Mexico and the US East Coast, silvery with rows of orange spots. Runs in schools near shore and strikes spoons, jigs and live bait.

Also called: sororoca-do-golfo, sierra, Atlantic Spanish mackerel, Spanish mackerel

forecast for atlantic spanish mackerel where found
Scientific illustration of Atlantic Spanish mackerel
common size
35–55 cm
maximum
91 cm
common weight
0.4–1.5 kg
record/max.
5.9 kg
depth
10–35 m
ideal water
22–29 °C
overview

who is the atlantic spanish mackerel

The sierra, which we call sororoca-do-golfo here, is a Spanish mackerel of the northwestern Atlantic: it ranges from Canada and Cape Cod to Miami and along the Gulf of Mexico coast to Yucatán. It does not occur in Brazil, where the similar spotted mackerel is the sororoca (Scomberomorus brasiliensis). It lives in the coastal zone, between 10 and 35 m, in water of 20 to 30 °C, and migrates in large schools along the coast. It mainly eats sardines and anchovies, with some shrimp and squid. It matures at around 40 cm and the maximum recorded age is 5 years. Fishing methods include trolling, casting spoons and jigs, drifting live bait and, in some fisheries, using planes to locate the schools.

fun facts

  • The genus name, Scomberomorus, combines Latin scomber (mackerel) with Greek moros (fool), according to FishBase.
  • In some fisheries, planes are used to locate sierra schools, which migrate over long distances.
  • The maximum recorded age is 5 years and maturity comes between 25 and 51 cm: the species grows and reproduces quickly.
how to recognize it

identification

Fusiform, silvery body covered in small scales, with about three rows of round to oval spots, orange in life. The first dorsal fin is black at the front and at the rear edge. The lateral line slopes gradually to the tail base. The king mackerel (cavala, S. cavalla) loses its spots as an adult and has a sharply dropping lateral line; the cero (S. regalis) has a dark band on its flank. FishBase warns that the sororoca (S. brasiliensis), the Pacific sierra (S. sierra) and the eastern Atlantic species (S. tritor) are often confused with this one: check the fish's origin.

how atlantic spanish mackerel fishing looks

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.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

It does not occur in Brazil. In Latin America, FishBase places the species on the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico, up to Yucatán, and also lists Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico; but the distribution text in the same entry stops at Yucatán and says the sierra is often confused with the sororoca and the Pacific sierra, so records from the islands call for caution. Outside the region, it ranges from Canada and Cape Cod to Florida, and does not occur in the Bahamas.

Habitat: Open water of the coastal zone, between 10 and 35 m, in schools that migrate along the coast and follow sardines and anchovies. Larvae stay at the surface, in water of 19.6 to 29.8 °C.

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of year
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Migratory species: the school moves back and forth along the coast with water temperature and with the bait. We found no published fishing-season calendar for Mexico, Cuba or the other islands; the app's weights are estimates, and the best guide is warm, clear water with sardines at the surface.

best time of day

0h6h12h18h sunrise ~6amsunset ~6pm

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day, most active at dawn and late afternoon, when bait schools rise near the surface.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the atlantic spanish mackerel
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Below about 20 °C the school moves away from the coast; the range FishBase gives for the species is 20 to 30 °C.

atmospheric pressure

A cold front with rough seas scatters the bait and knocks out fishing for a day or two.

moon

Small effect; big tides concentrate bait at points and bay mouths.

rain

Little effect in open sea; murky water from a river or lagoon pushes the school away.

water level

Doesn't apply at sea. The equivalent is bait at the surface and clear water.

noise

An engine over the school makes it sink; approach from outside and cast at the edge.

wind

Light chop hides the line; strong wind makes it hard to see birds and feeding frenzies.

tide

At bay mouths and channels, the tidal current gathers bait and sierra.

depth

From the surface to about 35 m, following the bait.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

TrollingMid-water castingJiggingNatural bait with float
rod
6'6" to 7'6", fast action, 10 to 20 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel
spinning reel 3000 to 4000, with smooth drag and good line capacity
line
braided line 15 to 30 lb
leader
fluorocarbon 30 to 40 lb or fine steel wire 20 to 30 lb, 30 to 45 cm (the teeth cut thin line)
hook
single hook 1/0 to 3/0 on natural bait; small treble hooks on spoons and plugs

lures

  • metal spoons, 10 to 30 g
  • metal jigs, 20 to 40 g
  • jigheads, 1/4 to 1/2 oz, with silicone or feather tail
  • small mid-water plugs

natural baits

  • live sardine or anchovy
  • sardine or squid strips
  • shrimp

accessories

  • long-nose pliers
  • luvas
  • insulated cooler with ice

tip from an angler

Reel in fast without pauses: sierra strike bait that is trying to escape. When birds are diving, stop the boat short of the school and cast to its edge.

what the law says

rules for the atlantic 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.
Conservation: The species does not occur in Brazil and so is not on the national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026). We found no specific conservation rule in the countries where it is fished.

Mexico: up to 5 per species and 10 saltwater fish per day

5 specimens of the species per angler per day, within the limit of 10 saltwater fish

In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 marine fish per day, with at most 5 of the same species. Sierra is not among the species reserved for sport fishing (marlins, sailfish, swordfish, sábalo, roosterfish and dorado, up to 50 nautical miles from shore, item 0.3 of the rule) nor among those with their own limit (billfish, sharks, pescada, sábalo, dorado, roosterfish and baya), and it has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit are released alive, and sport-caught fish may not be sold.

Source: Amendment to NOM-017-PESC-1994 (recreational sport fishing in federal waters of Mexico), signed Oct 14, 2013, items 0.3, 4.9.1, 4.9.5 and 4.11 (Sagarpa/Conapesca)

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.

Use long-nose pliers, since the teeth cut, and hold the fish with a wet hand or a cloth. It tires quickly and suffers out of the water: unhook it with the fish in the water if you can, and release it promptly.

in the kitchen

Sold fresh, frozen or smoked, and prepared fried, grilled or baked, according to FishBase. Ciguatera has been reported for the species: in reef areas, follow local health advice.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00776, b = 3.03; 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

—

sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.

  1. scientific FishBase: Scomberomorus maculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight relationship, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, cited fishing methods and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026. The country list (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico) comes from FishBase itself; the distribution text stops at Yucatán.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scomberomorus maculatusNames by country and language.
  3. scientific IUCN Red List: Scomberomorus maculatus (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 10/11/2022)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase profile (Red List, version 2025-2).
  4. scientific Collette, B. B.; Nauen, C. E. (1983). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125(2). Roma: FAO.Main FishBase reference for the species (description, distribution and confusion with other mackerels).
  5. official DOF: Modificação da NOM-017-PESC-1994, para regular a pesca deportivo-recreativa em águas de jurisdição federal do MéxicoText signed on Oct 14, 2013. Reserves species for sport fishing (item 0.3), daily limits at sea (4.9.1), catch and release of excess fish (4.9.5), and a ban on selling the catch (4.11). Text checked on Oct 13, 2026; the DOF publication date does not appear in the consulted text. The daily limit was confirmed only for Mexico; for Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico we did not confirm species-specific rules.
don't confuse

similar species

Illustration of Serra Spanish mackerel
Scombridae

Serra Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus brasiliensis

The coastal Spanish mackerel. Yellow spots, razor teeth and a hard run on spoons and jigs retrieved fast.

Sea
time of yearbest: Nov–Apr
Illustration of Cero
Scombridae

Cero

Scomberomorus regalis

Smaller mackerel of the clear Caribbean waters, with a dark band and yellow streaks on the flank. It hunts near reefs and hits spoons, plugs and trolling baits.

Sea
time of year
Illustration of King mackerel
Scombridae

King mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

The largest cavala on the coast, strong and sharp-toothed. Widely caught by trolling and in the artisanal fishing of the Northeast, and excellent eating.

Sea
time of yearbest: Oct–Mar
Illustration of Pacific sierra
Scombridae

Pacific sierra

Scomberomorus sierra

The Pacific Spanish mackerel, a cousin of the Atlantic Spanish mackerel (sororoca). It travels in schools close to the coast from Mexico to Peru and strikes spoons and fast lures.

Sea
time of yearbest: Nov–Apr