Side by Side

False Albacore Euthynnus alletteratus

Typical: 20–28 in, 5–12 lb

Key field mark: Worm-like scribbles confined to the back plus a few dark belly spots and a smooth UNMARKED lower body separate the albie from bonito, which carries straight slanted dark stripes onto its sides and has visible teeth.

• wavy, worm-like dark green-blue scribbles on the upper back only
• 3-7 dark round spots below and behind the pectoral fin
• lower sides and belly silvery and unmarked (no stripes)
• rigid tuna body with finlets before the tail; lacks scaly corselet markings of bonito
• small, inconspicuous teeth; deeply forked tail

Full False Albacore guide — season, gear and rules →

Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus

Typical: 14–22 in, 1–3 lb

Key field mark: Golden-yellow oval spots plus a black front patch on the first dorsal fin and an evenly sloping lateral line separate Spanish from the spot-poor king mackerel.

• Greenish back, silver sides with round golden-yellow spots (no stripes)
• Front third of first dorsal fin jet black
• Lateral line slopes gently to the tail, no abrupt dip
• Forked tail; row of finlets behind dorsal and anal fins
• Adults rarely exceed a few pounds (much smaller than king)

Full Spanish Mackerel guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where False Albacore and Spanish Mackerel Overlap

Both run in Northeast, Southeast Atlantic — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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