Scad looks a lot like a mackerel at first glance. A few scad were caught in the dark at Sussex venues in late September 2025, and Kestrel Warrior lists them among fish taken on its mackerel trips. British boat record: confirmed.
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About the horse mackerel
Scad looks a lot like a mackerel at first glance. It is a slim, silvery-grey fish with a row of bony scutes along the lateral line and a dark spot on the gill cover, and those two clues set it apart. It is also called horse mackerel, though it is not a true mackerel. Scad normally measure about 25 cm and can reach 60 cm. Planet Sea Fishing gives a maximum of around 1.5 kg, with most under half that. They live in open water over a sandy seabed, mostly nearer the surface, in water under 100 m deep. Scad take feathers and small lures much as mackerel do, so a mixed bag is possible, and Kestrel Warrior lists scad among the fish caught on its mackerel trips. Our sources give no month-by-month calendar for scad in Britain, so we have not invented one. The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable overall, though European waters show no decline, so it is worth handling any you keep or return with care.
On the boat
Scad take feathers and small lures in the same way as mackerel, according to Planet Sea Fishing. Baits include small fish, ragworm and squid strip. No month-by-month catch calendar was found for Britain. In Sussex, a few were caught at night in late September 2025 (Prime Angling), and Kestrel Warrior lists scad among the fish caught on its mackerel trips.
British boat-caught record
Confirmed record
- Weight
- 3 lb 8 oz (1.588 kg)
- Where
- Eddystone Lighthouse, Cornwall
- When
- 1978
- Angler
- Graham Eden
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Graham Eden, 3 lb 8 oz (1.588 kg), at Eddystone Lighthouse, Cornwall, in 1978. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and new claims are by length only, with a qualifying length of 60 cm.
How we label records: the British boat-caught records table explains confirmed, claimed and none listed.
Care and rules
The minimum landing size is 15 cm, according to the Gov.uk table checked in 2026. Wikipedia gives the IUCN status as Vulnerable overall, though European waters show no decline. Rules change: check the current rules before you fish.
Did you know?
The IUCN lists the Atlantic horse mackerel as Vulnerable overall, yet Wikipedia notes that European waters show no decline. The picture changes depending on where you look.
Questions about the horse mackerel
What is the British boat-caught record for horse mackerel?
Confirmed British boat-caught record: Graham Eden, 3 lb 8 oz (1.588 kg), at Eddystone Lighthouse, Cornwall, in 1978. This is a historical weight record from the official British Record Fish Committee list. The official weight-based boat records were frozen in June 2024, and new claims are by length only, with a qualifying length of 60 cm.
Is horse mackerel caught off the Sussex coast?
Yes. A few scad were caught in the dark at Sussex venues in late September 2025, and Kestrel Warrior lists them among fish taken on its mackerel trips.
When is the best time to catch horse mackerel?
Off Sussex: A few caught at night in late September 2025 (Prime Angling). Kestrel Warrior lists scad among fish caught on its mackerel trips.
How big does a horse mackerel get?
Normally about 25 cm, up to 60 cm (Wikipedia). Maximum around 1.5 kg, most under half that (Planet Sea Fishing).
Sources
- Wikipedia: Atlantic horse mackerel: en.wikipedia.org
- Planet Sea Fishing: Trachurus trachurus: planetseafishing.com
- Kestrel Warrior mackerel trip: kestrelwarrior6.co.uk
- Prime Angling West Sussex report 28 Sep 2025: primeangling.co.uk
- Gov.uk MCRS in UK waters: gov.uk
- BRFC sea fish listings June 2026: anglingtrust.net
Picture: tracks73, file page on Wikimedia Commons. Every picture in the guide is listed on the picture credits page.
