Blue Mackerel
Blue mackerel are a small, fast-moving pelagic species that turn up in good numbers around the North Island and upper South Island, particularly from the Bay of Plenty to east Northland.
Managed under New Zealand's Quota Management System, they're a legitimate recreational target — great eating fresh, smoked, or as sashimi — and often show up inshore when conditions are right.
Scientific Name: Scomber australasicus
Also known as Southern mackerel, Pacific mackerel
- Blue-green back with dark, wavy lines running lengthwise; silvery-white underside — the wavy markings are the quickest ID feature.
- Streamlined, round-bodied build that tapers sharply toward the tail, typical of the tuna family (Scombridae).
- Average 30–55 cm in New Zealand waters; most fish encountered inshore run around 40 cm.
- Distinguished from chub mackerel by a longer anal spine and fewer spines on the first dorsal fin.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Introduced? No — blue mackerel are native to subtropical and tropical Pacific waters, and New Zealand sits at the southern edge of their natural range.
- Most common around the North Island and upper South Island; the Bay of Plenty, east Northland, and the Hauraki Gulf are the main recreational encounter zones.
- Also present on the west coast of the North Island (Taranaki Bight) and the northern west coast of the South Island, though primarily as commercial bycatch there.
- A surface-to-mid-water species, found from the surface down to around 300 m, but recreational catches are almost always in the upper water column.
Key Locations
- Bay of Plenty — the main commercial and recreational zone; most inshore fish show July–December.
- East Northland — schools move through ahead of the marlin season, often close to the coast.
- Hauraki Gulf — inshore schools reported around Little Barrier Island, Flat Rock, and Tiri.
- Taranaki Bight (west coast, North Island) — primarily a commercial area but mackerel are present.
Specific Spots
- Look for birds working the surface — blue mackerel push baitfish up and birds mark the school from above.
- Around headlands, reef edges, and current lines where bait concentrates; Kingfish Rock in the Bay of Plenty is a documented example.
- Inshore in the Hauraki Gulf — inside Little Barrier Island, around Flat Rock and Tiri — when schools move close to the coast.
- Mid-water over deeper structure when not actively feeding at the surface; they'll suspend rather than hug the bottom.
Blue Mackerel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Blue Mackerel?
Small chrome metal jigs (40–80 g), including lumo-tubed versions, are the most consistently reported lure for targeting blue mackerel inshore, work them fast with an erratic action. Small soft plastics on light jig heads also work when fish are feeding near the surface; match the size to the bait they're chasing.
When is the best time to fish for Blue Mackerel?
Available year-round commercially, but inshore recreational fishing peaks July through December in the Bay of Plenty and east Northland. Schools often appear ahead of the marlin run in late summer and autumn (February–April) in northern waters.
How do you catch Blue Mackerel?
Most recreational anglers encounter blue mackerel while targeting other species, but they can be deliberately targeted by locating surface-feeding schools, watch for diving birds, and casting small metal jigs into the melee.
What do Blue Mackerel eat?
Blue mackerel feed on small zooplankton, copepods, larval crustaceans, mollusc larvae, fish eggs, and fish larvae. When feeding on tiny organisms near the surface, small chrome or lumo jigs that flash and dart imitate the baitfish and invertebrates they're chasing.
Where do Blue Mackerel live?
Introduced? No, blue mackerel are native to subtropical and tropical Pacific waters, and New Zealand sits at the southern edge of their natural range. Most common around the North Island and upper South Island; the Bay of Plenty, east Northland, and the Hauraki Gulf are the main recreational encounter zones.
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