Atlantic Chub Mackerel
Scomber colias
Also known as Mackerel, Chub mackerel, Tinker mackerel
Culinary Profile
Rich, pronounced flavor.
Soft, flaky, and moist.
Chub mackerel is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Atlantic chub mackerel are elongated and streamlined with deeply forked tails. They have small spines on the dorsal fin. They are silvery in color, with greenish-blue backs. The upper surfaces have dark zigzagging stripes, and the bellies are pale and marked with wavy lines.
Biology
Atlantic chub mackerel grow up to 22 inches long and 3.5 pounds. They have a life span of up to about 7 years. They mainly feed on small crustaceans called copepods and tiny aquatic animals known as wheel animals or rotifers.
Where They Live
Range Atlantic chub mackerel in the western Atlantic Ocean range from Nova Scotia (where they are rare) through Argentina, including the Gulf of America. They are a schooling pelagic species that are found on the continental shelf to depths of about 250–300 meters throughout much of the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Habitat Atlantic chub mackerel are a schooling pelagic species.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild caught from Southern New England to the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial Fishery In 2023, commercial landings of Atlantic chub mackerel totaled 60,000 pounds and were valued at $18,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most commercial vessels fishing for Atlantic chub mackerel are participants in the shortfin squid fishery. Bottom trawl gear is used to catch Atlantic chub mackerel. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Many habitat areas in the Atlantic chub mackerel fishery have been impacted by fishing activities over many years. There are gear restricted areas in place for shortfin squid vessels, designed to protect essential fish habitat. There are mesh size and other restrictions for shortfin squid vessels but no specific gear restrictions for Atlantic chub mackerel.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 104 Species
Where Atlantic Chub Mackerel ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 DHA | 1401 mg | 1 / 104 | 99% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 898 mg | 3 / 104 | 97% |
| Vitamin D | 16.1 IU | 4 / 54 | 93% |
| Iron | 1.63 mg | 8 / 111 | 93% |
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Vitamin B12 | 8.71 µg | 17 / 106 | 84% |
| Selenium | 44.1 µg | 20 / 106 | 81% |
| Zinc | 0.63 mg | 36 / 111 | 68% |
| Phosphorus | 217 mg | 42 / 111 | 62% |
| Protein | 18.6 g | 51 / 111 | 54% |
Other Species in Genus Scomber
2 close biological relatives of Atlantic Chub Mackerel profiled in this catalogue — typically sharing similar anatomy, depth range, and fishery management.
| Species | Scientific name | Protein (g/100 g) | Omega-3 DHA (mg) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Mackerel | Scomber scombrus | 18.6 | 1401 | Smart Choice |
| Pacific Mackerel | Scomber japonicus | 19.29 | 1012 | Smart Choice |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Atlantic Chub Mackerel.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab
Chaceon quinquedens
Sweet and clean.
Atlantic Halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Halibut has a very mild, sweet taste.
Atlantic Pollock
Pollachius virens
Sweet and delicate.
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Buttery, rich taste.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Sea scallops have a sweet, rich taste that can be mild or briny.
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Slightly sweet.
Shortfin Squid
Illex illecebrosus
Mild, and subtly sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Rich-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the rich flavour profile of Atlantic Chub Mackerel, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Buttery, rich taste.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Sea scallops have a sweet, rich taste that can be mild or briny.
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Rich, full flavor. The larger the fish, the more pronounced the taste. A strong-flavored, dark strip of meat on the fillet may be removed be…
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else is Atlantic Chub Mackerel called?
Atlantic Chub Mackerel is also marketed as Mackerel, Chub mackerel, Tinker mackerel.
How much choline does Atlantic Chub Mackerel contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Atlantic Chub Mackerel supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
What does Atlantic Chub Mackerel eat?
Atlantic chub mackerel grow up to 22 inches long and 3.5 pounds. They have a life span of up to about 7 years. They mainly feed on small crustaceans called copepods and tiny aquatic animals known as wheel animals or rotifers.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic chub mackerel is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
Atlantic chub mackerel has never been assesssed, but is not overfished and not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitat that are affected by some types of trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the Atlantic chub mackerel fishery. Managed under the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan : Atlantic chub mackerel was added to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan in 2020.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.