How to catch Mediterranean horse mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868)
About Mediterranean horse mackerel fishing
The Mediterranean horse mackerel is a pelagic schooling fish belonging to the family Carangidae, featuring an elongated, fusiform body with a distinct dark mark near the operculum and a yellowish caudal fin. Growing up to sixty centimetres in total length, it typically inhabits coastal and offshore waters down to substantial depths, often holding near the sea floor by day while rising toward surface layers to feed. As an active oceanodromous migrant, it roams marine environments in large shoals, preying primarily on small fishes such as sardines and anchovies alongside various crustaceans. Recreational anglers highly value this energetic fighter for its vigorous strikes and strong schooling behavior along coastal structures.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
30 cm FL
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Market value
Low
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Black Sea horse mackerel, Common scad, Horse mackerel, Mediterranean scad, Scad
Lateral line scutes
Strongly arched bony scutes along the lateral line identify carangids.
Opercular spot
Dark spot on the upper opercular edge distinguishes this species.
Spiny dorsal fin
Separated first dorsal fin with robust spines is typical.
Mediterranean horse mackerel fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
30 cm FL (max 60 cm FL ) -
Typical weight
0.3 kg (max 1.7 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
13.2–21 °C -
Depth
0–500 m -
Longevity
12 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
36.1
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Active
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Active
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Active
Night
After dark
When to fish for Mediterranean horse mackerel
How to catch Mediterranean horse mackerel
Tips for catching Mediterranean horse mackerel
To consistently intercept schooling horse mackerel, focus your efforts around rocky drop-offs, harbour walls, and coastal points where pelagic prey concentrates. Light spinning gear matched with micro metal jigs or small soft plastics worked with a rapid, erratic retrieve proves exceptionally effective when fish are actively hunting near current lines. When schools hold deeper in the water column, vertical presentations using sabiki rigs or small weighted jigs allow you to quickly locate and maintain productive depths. Prime times occur during early morning and late afternoon hours when low light brings feeding schools closer to the surface. Always keep movements discreet in clear coastal waters and use fine fluorocarbon leaders to tempt wary fish.
Other names for Mediterranean horse mackerel
Local and alternate names anglers use for Mediterranean horse mackerel.
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Mediterranean horse mackerel
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Scad
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Mediterranean scad
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Horse mackerel
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Common scad
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Black Sea horse mackerel
Best equipment to catch Mediterranean horse mackerel
Compare fishing methods for Mediterranean horse mackerel — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.3 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
ultralight · 1.8 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
ultralight · 1.8 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
1.3 kg · 0.125 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
4
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Float Fishing
Suspending bait beneath a float at a controlled depth.
60% Effectiveness
Rod
Float rod
A float rod is the all-round fishing rod for a float in rivers and still water, a step down in length from match.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 3.6 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
1.3 kg · 0.125 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Hook
J-hook
A J-hook is the classic J-bend fishing hook for bait. You set it with a strike. Sizes are tokens such as 12 or 1/0.
Sized for a typical fish
12
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Float
Waggler
A waggler is a bottom-only attachment float for stillwaters and slow rivers. You shot it down and watch the antenna.
Sized for a typical fish
4 g
- Attachment
- Fixed
- Habitats
- Freshwater
- Methods
- Float Fishing
Trolling
Drawing lures or baits behind a moving boat.
50% Effectiveness
Rod
Trolling rod
A trolling rod is built to sit in a holder and pull a lure or bait at speed. Moderate action so the rod, not the reel, plays the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 1.83 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Trolling reel
A trolling reel is the dedicated lever-drag fishing reel for pulling lures behind a boat, often in a holder all day.
Sized for a typical fish
20 · 15 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Lever
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Mediterranean horse mackerel
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Worm
- Bottom Fishing
- Float Fishing
Rounded anterior end containing the mouth used for anchoring the bait on the hook.
02
Metal jig
- Spinning
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
05
Sardine
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
06
Anchovy
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated fish profile attractive for trolling and drift fishing.
07
Shrimp
- Float Fishing
Translucent segmented carapace protects the body.
How Mediterranean horse mackerel migrates — Oceanodromous
Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.
1 Eggs
Spawning grounds
Laid on the spawning grounds.
2 Larvae
→ Nursery grounds
Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.
3 Juveniles
Nursery grounds
Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.
4 Adults
Feeding grounds
Range widely over the feeding grounds.
5 Spawners
→ Spawning grounds
Return to the spawning grounds each season.
It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Mediterranean horse mackerel
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Dusk -
Main prey
Baitfish
Prey and predators of Mediterranean horse mackerel
Prey is what Mediterranean horse mackerel eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Baitfish
Predators
What hunts it
Fish
Where Mediterranean horse mackerel lives
Pelagic in the open ocean beyond the shelf break.
0–500 m · usually 5–250 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Mediterranean horse mackerel photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Mediterranean horse mackerel
Mapped fishing spots where Mediterranean horse mackerel is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
