Bermuda Chub

Averages 2-3 pounds; often exceeds 5 pounds and can reach 10 or more. World records: Bermuda Chub 13 pounds, 4 ounces;

Family	Scombridae
Description	Mackerels, tunas, bonitos
Environment	Brackish & Marine
Etymology	Latin, scomber = mackerel.
Genus	15
No. of Species	54
Order	Perciformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild	Nonguarders
Distribution	Tropical and subtropical seas. Body elongate and fusiform, moderately compressed in some genera. Snout pointed, premaxilla beaklike, free from nasal bones which are separated by the ethmoid bone; mouth large; teeth in jaws strong, moderate, or weak; no true canines; palate and tongue may bear teeth. The 2 dorsal fins separate and depressible into grooves with 5-12 finlets behind second dorsal and anal fins; first dorsal fin with 9-27 rays, origin well behind the head. Pectoral fins high on body. Pelvic fins moderate or small with 6 fin rays, placed below the pectoral fins. Caudal fin deeply forked with supporting caudal rays completely covering hypural plate. At least 2 small keels on each side of caudal fin base, a larger keel in between on caudal peduncle in more advanced species. Lateral line simple. Vertebrae 31-66. Body covered with small to moderate scales or a scaly corselet developed (area behind head and around pectoral fins covered with large thick scales) and rest of body naked or covered with tiny scales. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Thunnus and close relatives with a specialized vascular system for heat exchange; the evolution of this and related adaptations for endothermy are discussed in Block et al. 1993 (Ref. 11221). Primarily swift, epipelagic predators; some species occur in coastal waters, others far from shore. Mackerels (Scomber and Rastrelliger) filter plankton with their long gill rakers. Spanish mackerels, bonitos and tunas feed on larger prey, including small fishes, crustaceans and squids. The main predators of smaller scombrids are other predacious fishes, particularly large tunas and billfises. Dioecious and most display little or no sexual dimorphism in structure or color pattern. Females of many species attain larger sizes than maels. Batch spawning of most species takes place in tropical and subtropical waters, frequently inshore. Eggs are pelagic and hatch into planktonic larvae. Among the most important of commercial and sport fishes. [Thunninae=ISSCAAP 36; Scombrinae=ISSCAAP 37]. Also Ref. 50681. According to the recent phylogenies (Ref. 58009), two subfamilies can be recognized: - Gasterochismatinae with one species Gasterochisma melampus. - Scombrinae: divided currently in four tribes (Ref. 58010), only Scombrini are supported by molecular data; more research is needed for Scomberomorini, Sardini, and Thunnini.

Sea Chub, Butter Bream, Chopa

The Bermuda Chub shown here, and the Yellow Chub, Kyphosus incisor, are so nearly identical in appearance and habits that it would be a rare angler who could tell them apart - or wish to. Both are oval-shaped with forked tails. Color of both is gray or blue with many narrow, full-length yellow stripes on the sides. These stripes are somewhat more obvious and lustrous in the Yellow Chub than in the Bermuda. Inhabits shallow waters, over turtle grass, sand or rocky bottom and around coral reefs. Young commonly found among floating Sargassum seaweeds. Feeds on plants, mainly on benthic algae, as well as on small crabs and mollusks. Also feeds on spinner dolphins’ feces and vomits at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, southeast Atlantic. The offal feeding may be regarded as a simple behavioral shift from plankton feeding to drifting offal picking

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Gray overall, with faint yellow lines on side and yellow line from corner of mouth to preopercle. Upper part pf opercular membrane blackish. The young may display pale spots nearly as large as eye on the head, body and fins. Each jaw with a regular row of close-set, strong, incisor-like, round-tipped teeth of a peculiar hockey stick-shape, their bases set horizontally, resembling a radially striated bony plate inside mouth

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Canada to Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda southward to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic: south of Morocco to Gulf of Guinea; St. Paul's Rocks, Ascension and St. Helena. Rarely found in the Mediterranean and off Madeira.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Spinning, baitcasting and light ocean outfits provide the best sport. Chubs are vegetarians, but take cut baits at times. If they are hanging around and you wish to target them, the best baits are bread balls or scraps of lettuce and cabbage. Readily takes small jigs and streamer flies.