Fish ID – Species Glossary

Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS

Description: diagonal, sometimes wavy, dark bars on bare areas on each side of back; 4 to 5 dark spots below pectoral fin; no dark stripes on belly; dorsal fins connected at base; pectoral fin short.

Size: to 1 m (3.25 ft.) and 12 kg (26 lbs.), but usually much smaller.

Where found: common offshore, but also occurs regularly in bays and over reefs.

Remarks: probably the most common tuna in the w. Atlantic; popular sport fish, it is also used as bait for marlin; occurs in large schools.

Family Scombridae, MACKERELS AND TUNAS

Description: body slender; elongate jaws form a pointed beak; dark bluish above, with about 30 dark wavy bars; whitish below 1st dorsal fin long and low, with 21 to 27 spines; no gill rakers.

Size: to 2.1 m (83 in.) and 83 kg (183 lbs.).

Where found: offshore Gulfstream; bluewater

Remarks: an important game fish, reowned for its tremendous runs and shifts of direction; usually not in schools; caught by trolling bait and artificial lures on flatlines.