Spotted Mackerel
Spotted mackerel — 'spotties' to most Queensland anglers — are an inshore pelagic species that makes a predictable summer migration down the Queensland coast and into northern NSW.
Smaller than Spanish mackerel but schooling in far greater numbers, they're a practical, accessible target that fights well and eats even better. When the spotty run is on, the action can be relentless.
Scientific Name: Scomberomorus munroi
Also known as Spotties, Australian spotted mackerel
- Long, slender, strongly compressed body; bluish-green along the back fading to silvery-blue on the sides and white on the belly.
- Several rows of large, round, poorly defined spots along the sides — the key visual difference from Spanish mackerel, which carries dark vertical bands instead.
- First dorsal fin is completely black or dark blue (fades after capture); pectoral fins have a dark blue inner surface.
- Typical catch runs 3–5 kg and 50–80 cm; fish over 7 kg are genuinely big, and the species maxes out around 10 kg and 104 cm.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; range runs from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia around the northern coast to Coffs Harbour and Kempsey in central NSW.
- An inshore, near-surface species — rarely found deeper than 40–50 m, and often working right behind the surf line over shallow coastal reefs.
- Strongly associated with the Queensland coast, where large schools migrate south each summer following warm water and baitfish concentrations.
- Distinct from Spanish mackerel in habitat preference: spotties stay inshore and school up, while Spanish mackerel range further offshore and out to the continental shelf edge.
Key Locations
- Gold Coast reefs (Palm Beach reef, Jumpinpin bar, Gold Coast Seaway) — schools arrive reliably each summer and can hold for months.
- Moreton Island grounds, southeast Queensland — a consistent stop on the annual migration with accessible inshore reefs.
- Queensland coast generally from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast — the core of the annual spotty run, with fish hitting the same reefs year after year.
- Northern NSW (Hat Head, Wooli, Coffs Harbour area) — the southern fringe of the range; fish arrive later in summer and numbers are less predictable than further north.
Specific Spots
- Inshore reef systems just outside the surf line are the bread-and-butter location — spotties return to the same reefs year after year during the migration.
- Tide lines and current edges near bar entrances (like the Jumpinpin bar and Gold Coast Seaway) concentrate baitfish schools, and spotties stack up behind them.
- Look for surface activity — fish chopping on top, diving birds, or baitfish rippling the surface — and position upcurrent to drift or troll through the school.
- Berley trails drifted over reef in 10–40 m will hold fish once a school is located; early morning before wind picks up is prime time.
Spotted Mackerel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Spotted Mackerel?
Whole or half pilchards on a wire rig, floated back in a berley trail, are the go-to bait, simple, cheap, and consistently effective when fish are in the area.
When is the best time to fish for Spotted Mackerel?
Summer (December–February): the main spotty run arrives along the Queensland coast as warm water pushes south; this is peak season with the largest schools and most consistent action.
How do you catch Spotted Mackerel?
Most anglers target spotties from small to medium boats anchored or drifting over inshore reefs, running a berley trail of minced pilchards to draw and hold schools.
What do Spotted Mackerel eat?
Sardines (pilchards) and anchovies make up the bulk of the diet, which is why a whole or half pilchard on a wire rig is one of the most consistent baits going. Float it back in a berley trail for best results. Smaller quantities of squid and shrimp round out the menu.
Where do Spotted Mackerel live?
Native to Australian waters; range runs from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia around the northern coast to Coffs Harbour and Kempsey in central NSW. An inshore, near-surface species, rarely found deeper than 40–50 m, and often working right behind the surf line over shallow coastal reefs.
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