Cero Mackerel
Scomberomorus regalis
Also called Painted mackerel.
How to tell it
Spanish-mackerel twin with a bronze mid-body STRIPE plus spots above and below it; lateral line slopes gently.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called cero mackerel, and what gives each one away.
- Spanish mackerel: Spots only — no stripe. Tell them apart
- King mackerel: Lateral line takes a sharp drop; no gold markings when grown. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 17.13 lb | 1986 · Islamorada | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Very good fresh — doesn't freeze well.
In the app
Point the camera at a cero mackerel and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about cero mackerel
How do you tell cero mackerel from Spanish mackerel?
Cero Mackerel: Spanish-mackerel twin with a bronze mid-body STRIPE plus spots above and below it; lateral line slopes gently. Spanish mackerel: spots only — no stripe.
What is the record cero mackerel?
17.13 lb in Florida (1986), Islamorada. Other states’ records are in the table.