Spanish Mackerel
The Spanish mackerel has the outline of the slender mackerel rather than of the
stout bonito, its body being nearly 4½ to 5 times as
long as it is deep. But there is no danger of confusing it with either of the
true mackerels, first, because its two dorsal fins (like those of the
bonitos) are hardly separated, and second, because of its color pattern, Its
high second dorsal, slender form, and spotted sides mark it off at
first glance from our bonitos, while its color, slender form, long
first-dorsal fin, and the outline of its second dorsal distinguish it from a
small tuna. The most clear-cut distinction betweenthe Spanish and
its close relatives the king mackerel and the cavalla, is that the pectoral fins of the Spanish
are naked but those of the last two are mostly covered with scales. The ventral
fins, also, originate definitely behind the origin of the first dorsal
in the Spanish, under it or only a very little rearward in the king;
and the color differs.
stout bonito, its body being nearly 4½ to 5 times as
long as it is deep. But there is no danger of confusing it with either of the
true mackerels, first, because its two dorsal fins (like those of the
bonitos) are hardly separated, and second, because of its color pattern, Its
high second dorsal, slender form, and spotted sides mark it off at
first glance from our bonitos, while its color, slender form, long
first-dorsal fin, and the outline of its second dorsal distinguish it from a
small tuna. The most clear-cut distinction betweenthe Spanish and
its close relatives the king mackerel and the cavalla, is that the pectoral fins of the Spanish
are naked but those of the last two are mostly covered with scales. The ventral
fins, also, originate definitely behind the origin of the first dorsal
in the Spanish, under it or only a very little rearward in the king;
and the color differs.
Spanish Mackerel
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/7/0/19701521/3932412.gif)
This Spanish was caught off of the pier in North myrtle beach, NC. It was caught on a spanish jig rig.