🐟
Mackerel
Scomber japonicus
Eating Quality
Fight Rating
Catch Heatmap (28 days)
No recent data
About
Fast schooling fish used primarily as live bait on party boats. Sometimes kept and eaten — strong flavor.
Jack MackerelPacific MackerelMack
Typical Catch Size
0.75 lbs
avg weight
0.5–2
weight range (lbs)
10–20"
length
CA Regulations (CDFW)
—
minimum keep length
∞
daily bag limit
📋 No limit
⚠️ Regulations change — always verify with CDFW before your trip.
Habitat & Season
🌊
Habitat
Open water surface to mid-water, nearshore.
📅
Season
Year-round; peaks spring–fall
Data Sources
SportfishingReport.com
Daily catch data · Dock reports · Party boat totals
CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)
Official regulations · Bag limits · Size minimums
W
Wikipedia
Biology · Distribution · Taxonomy
Catch statistics aggregated from public sportfishing reports. Size/weight data represents typical party boat catches in SoCal waters.
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