Queen Mackerel
Queen mackerel — known along the KwaZulu-Natal coast as Natal Snoek — are a shoaling pelagic species that form the backbone of KZN's inshore spinning and light-tackle game fishery.
They move in tight schools along shallow reefs and surf zones, chasing baitfish, and when they're on the boil in the shore break, few fish in South Africa are as accessible or as much fun on light gear.
Scientific Name: Scomberomorus plurilineatus
Also known as Natal Snoek, Kanadi kingfish, Kanadi seerfish, spotted mackerel
- Elongated, torpedo-shaped body with a deeply forked tail and a narrow caudal peduncle built for speed; iridescent blue-green back fading to silver-white below.
- Sides marked with multiple broken horizontal lines or rows of spots — the feature that separates this species from king mackerel and other scombrids in local waters.
- Typical fish run 2–5 kg; specimens above 8 kg are noteworthy, and the South African record stands at 11.4 kg. Maximum recorded length is around 120 cm.
- Razor-sharp teeth on a prominent jaw — handle carefully when unhooking, especially a fish that's playing dead.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the western Indian Ocean; in South Africa they are concentrated along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, from the south coast up through the north coast toward the Mozambique border.
- A pelagic-neritic species — they live and feed in the water column close to shore, typically from the backline surf out to around 20 m depth, though they can range deeper.
- Warm subtropical water is their element; they follow the warm Agulhas Current influence up the KZN coast and are closely tied to baitfish concentrations like anchovies and sardines.
- Schools move into very shallow water — as little as 2–3 m — when bait is present, making them reachable from the beach or rocks as well as from boats.
Key Locations
- KwaZulu-Natal north coast beaches — spots like Umhloti are known for shore-based spinning sessions when schools push bait into the surf zone.
- The KZN south coast during the sardine run (roughly June–August) — queen mackerel follow the bait aggregations that draw everything from dolphins to sharks inshore.
- The entire KZN coastline from the south coast to the Mozambique border holds fish through the warmer months, with the north coast generally more productive in summer.
Specific Spots
- The backline and surf zone along KZN beaches: this is where schools pin baitfish against the surface, creating visible bust-ups that are the clearest signal to cast.
- Shallow inshore reefs from the surface down to about 20 m — queen mackerel patrol the edges of these structures when not actively feeding on surface bait.
- Bait balls are the key locator: wherever sharks, dolphins, or tuna are working a bait ball, queen mackerel are often in the same water or just behind it.
- On calmer days, sheltered channels and inside waters let you sight-cast to cruising schools in 2–3 m of clear water — one of the most visual ways to fish them.
Queen Mackerel FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Queen Mackerel?
Metal spoons in small to medium sizes (10–30 g) retrieved fast are the go-to lure for feeding schools, the flash and speed match fleeing anchovies, and the strikes are immediate when fish are on the boil.
What flies work for Queen Mackerel?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate small baitfish) in white, chartreuse, or silver are a reliable starting point, cast into or ahead of a feeding school and strip fast.
When is the best time to fish for Queen Mackerel?
Summer (November–April): peak season as fish move south from Mozambique to breed; schools are larger and more frequent along the north KZN coast. Sardine run (June–August): a secondary peak on the KZN south coast as queen mackerel follow the massive baitfish aggregations inshore.
How do you catch Queen Mackerel?
Shore-based spinning from KZN beaches is the most common approach, scan the surf zone for bust-ups or bait activity, then cast metal spoons or feather traces into the school and retrieve fast. Boat anglers troll lures along the backline or sight-cast to schools in calmer inshore channels.
What do Queen Mackerel eat?
Small baitfish, anchovies and other clupeids (sardine-family fish), make up the bulk of their diet, which is why fast-retrieved metal spoons and slender baitfish imitations draw the most strikes when schools are feeding.
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