Monterey Spanish Mackerel — Scomberomorus concolor
To: Pier Fishing In California Message Board
From: Ken Jones
Subject: No more Monterey Spanish Mackerel in Santa Cruz
Lest We Forget—The Horn Of Plenty Can Run Dry
When the laws of demand exceed those of supply there can be but one ultimate answer—eventual extermination… In our own front yard we have watched the depletion of certain species of game and food fish in Monterey Bay to a point of extinction, caused in part to over-fishing of the industry.
Take the history of the once famous Monterey Spanish mackerel, the species (“Scomberomorus Concolor”).
From the Civil War times on through the reign of John Sullivan, early Italian and Portuguese fishermen in their lateen sailing craft brought back to Santa Cruz piers large and lucrative catches of these mackerel. It was one of the most highly prized and priced fish in the commercial markets of those days.
Being a surface swimmer, the fish was easy to net. But after 1890 the Monterey Spanish mackerel disappeared commercially from local waters. For 40 years it remained unreported in California angling circles.
In 1931 two fish of this species were caught on the Monterey side of the bay, and in 1937 a sportsman hooked one at Long Beach. The fish, perhaps the last of its kind, is now preserved for posterity in the Stanford University collection of marine life.—Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 11, 1945
Actually these fish are not extinct. The species was occasionally seen as far north as central Baja into the 1960s. However, today they probably only exist in the central and northern part of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), especially around San Felipe. They were recently common in that area but an analysis by the Mexican government in 2002 predicted there might be a 40% decline in numbers (within ten years) if over fishing was not reduced. Most scientists today attribute the disappearance of the Monterey Spanish Mackerel from Monterey Bay to a combination of factors (similar to the decline in sardines): (1) Over fishing by the commercial fleets and (2) A change in water temperatures (which were considerably higher in Monterey Bay in the 1880s-1890s).
Posted to Pier Fishing In California by calaznfisher
I actually recently chanced upon a school of these fish in the Gulf of California. Very interesting to see the silvery flanks of these fish devoid of significant markings. A total blast to catch with spoons and light tackle. When I came across them, these fish were on a wide-open surface bite. Absolutely amazing to see them slice through bait. For hours, the surface was boiling with these fish.
New Species of Fish Appearing on the Pacific Coast
Another of the pelagic or wandering fish has been added to our list, and the addition is a valuable one for our food supply. The pilgrim fathers of the Spanish mackerel steered their adventurous course into our waters last summer when the Columbus of the tribe was taken at the mouth of Monterey Bay. Since then the fish have been taken there, at Santa Cruz and other localities, and last week one was taken at Bolinas Bay, showing that they are becoming wildly dispersed along the coast. No one has seriously questioned the character of this fish. It is identical with the Spanish mackerel of our other seaboard. They are a beautiful fish, of a dark blue color, tinged with purple and gold above the lateral line, changing to pink and gold below, where it shades into white on the belly. It weighs ten to twelve pounds and is a highly-esteemed table-fish. It is taken at the East by trolling squids of Britannia or highly polished metal, and is sometimes taken with a hook baited with shedder crabs.—San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1878
This species attains a length of about 2 ½ feet and a weight of 5 to 8 pounds. It has only been seen in Monterey Bay, where but a limited number are taken each fall. Its flesh is of very fine flavor, and always brings a hihg price in the markets. They appear in September and disappear in November.—Bulletin Of The United States Fish Commission, 1884
Monterey Mackerel (Scomberomorus concolor)—This fish has only been seen in Monterey Bay, mostly at Soquel. It reaches a weight of five to eight pounds, and is thirty inches in length. They appear in September and disappear about November. The flesh is excellent and they bring a high price.—The Fishes of Monterey Bay, C. L. Anderson, U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 1891
A fish of the mackerel family related to the other Spanish mackerels. It lacks the golden spots present on the sides of the sierraand has a greater number of gillrakers… This species is now found from Panama Bay to the Gulf of California. It was once common in Monterey Bay, California but in the late 1880’s it disappeared from the California coast, and only a few specimens have been taken in that area since then. The flesh was considered a great delicancy and brought a high price on the market.—McClane’s Standard Fishing Encyclopedia and International Angling Guide, 1965
Gulf Sierra, Scomberomorus concolor: Range: Monterey Bay to Mexico, abundant in Monterey Bay 1870-1880, then disappeared. Abundant in n. part of Gulf of Californi; stragglers reach s. Calif.—Pacific Coast Fishes, William N. Eschmeyer, Earl S. Herald, 1983