Cero Mackerel (Scomberomorus regalis)
- The population status of cero mackerel is not known.
- No management regulations currently apply to cero mackerel.
- Mackerel are an excellent source of selenium, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12. For more on nutrition, see Nutrition Facts. (USDA)
- Cero mackerel is a popular recreational fish but has minor commercial importance. They are taken as bycatch in other commercial fisheries. They are not known to form large schools and are more difficult to target individually. In general, they do not make up a significant amount of coastal pelagic catches.
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| Nutrition Facts |
| Servings 1 |
| Serving Weight
100g |
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| Amount Per Serving |
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| Calories 105 |
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| Total Fat |
2 g |
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| Total Saturated Fatty Acids |
0.363 g |
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| Carbohydrate |
0 g |
| Sugars |
0 g |
| Total Dietary
Fiber |
0 g |
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| Cholesterol |
53 mg |
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| Selenium |
36.5 mcg |
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| Sodium |
158 mg |
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| Protein |
20.28 g |
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 Cero mackerel primarily feed on small schooling fish, particularly clupeid fish such as herrings (shown in the photo).
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Did you know?
The cero mackerel is well-equipped for hunting prey with its powerful jaws and razor-sharp teeth.
Fishermen often confuse cero mackerel with king and Spanish mackerel. Cero mackerel can be distinguished from king and Spanish mackerels by a series of yellow-gold streaks along midline of the fish from pectoral fin to tail. Spanish mackerels have yellow-gold spots along midline of fish from pectoral fin to tail, and king mackerel are silvery with no yellow-gold markings.
The cero mackerel's coloring helps it blend in with its surroundings and avoid predators. Its silvery underside blends in well with the glow from the sun shining on the surface of the water, making it difficult to see from below, and its darkly colored back blends in with the blue-green color of the sea, making it difficult to spot from above.
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Cero mackerel are found over coral reefs, wrecks, and along ledges in depths ranging from the water's surface to mid-water.
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Historical drawing of a cero mackerel, Scomberomorus regalis. The genus Scomberomorus is derived from the Latin word "scomber" meaning mackerel and the Greek word "moros" for silly or stupid. Regalis is Latin for royal.
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Sustainability Status
Biomass: Unknown
Overfishing: Unknown
Overfished: Unknown
Fishing and habitat: There is no directed fishery for cero mackerel; it is caught incidentally in other fisheries so there is no impact on habitat.
Bycatch: There is no directed fishery for cero mackerel; it is caught incidentally in other fisheries so there is no bycatch.
Aquaculture: There is currently no commercial aquaculture of cero mackerel in the United States.
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Science and Management
Cero mackerel is included in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils' Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. No regulations apply to this species.
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Life History and Habitat
Life history, including information on the habitat, growth, feeding, and reproduction of a species, is important because it affects how a fishery is managed.
- Geographic range: In the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts south to Brazil. Cero are especially common in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida.
- Habitat: Cero mackerel are found over coral reefs, wrecks, and along ledges in depths ranging from the water's surface to mid-water.
- Life span: Unknown
- Food: Cero mackerel primarily feed on small schooling fish, particularly clupeid fish such as herrings. They also eat silversides, squid, and shrimp.
- Growth rate: Unknown. In general, mackerels are relatively fast growing.
- Maximum size: Up to 32 inches in length and 11 pounds in weight.
- Reaches reproductive maturity: Males mature between 1 to 1.2 feet in length and females mature at lengths of approximately 1.3 feet.
- Reproduction: Females between 15 and 31 inches release 160,000 to 2.23 million eggs each.
- Spawning season: Spawning occurs offshore during April through October off Jamaica, in midsummer off the coast of Florida, and year-round in Puerto Rican waters.
- Spawning grounds: Unknown
- Migrations: Unknown
- Predators: Predators of cero mackerel include wahoo, sharks, dolphins, and diving sea birds.
- Commercial or recreational interest: Both
- Distinguishing characteristics: Cero is silvery below and dark blue above. A blackish band runs on the side from the base of the pectoral fin nearly to the base of the caudal fin, crossing the lateral line. Below the band are rows of oblong gold spots.
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Role in the Ecosystem
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Additional Information
Market names: Mackerel, Spanish
Vernacular names: Painted Mackerel, Kingfish, Pintado, Sierra, King Mackerel
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Biomass
Biomass refers to the amount of cero mackerel in the ocean. Scientists cannot collect and weigh every single fish to determine biomass, so they use models to estimate it instead. These biomass estimates can help determine if a stock is being fished too heavily or if it may be able to tolerate more fishing pressure. Managers can then make appropriate changes in the regulations of the fishery. There are no estimates of biomass for cero mackerel.
Landings
Landings refer to the amount of catch that is brought to land. Cero mackerel is not distinguished from king mackerel in landings reports, so no catch information is available on cero mackerel.
Biomass and Landings
Are landings and biomass related? Landings are dependent on biomass, management measures in the fishery, and fishing effort.
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Important Dates
1982 – Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP approved
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Notes and Links
General Information:
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Migratory Pelagic Fisheries
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce - Cero Mackerel Species Report 
Fishery Management:
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
FMP for Coastal Migratory Pelagics in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico - History of Management
Stock Assessments:
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