Mackerel Scad

Can grow up to 18 inches

Family	Carangidae
Description	Jacks and pompanos
Environment	Brackish & Marine
Etymology	French, carangue = name of fish given in Caribe.1836
Genus	30
No. of Species	146
Order	Perciformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild	Nonguarders
Distribution	Chiefly marine; rarely brackish. Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Body generally compressed, although body shape extremely variable from very deep to fusiform. Most species with only small cycloid scales. Scales along lateral line often modified into spiny scutes. Detached finlets, as many as nine, sometimes found behind dorsal and anal fins. Large juveniles and adults with 2 dorsal fins. Anterior dorsal fin with 3-9 spines; the second having 1 spine and usually 18-37 soft rays. Anal spines usually 3, the first 2 separate from the rest; soft rays usually 15-31. Widely forked caudal fin. Caudal peduncle slender. Pelvic fins lacking in Parona signata. Vertebrae 24-27 (modally 24). Fast swimming predators of the waters above the reef and in the open sea. Some root in sand for invertebrates and fishes. One of the most important families of tropical marine fishes; fished commercially and for recreation.

Opelu, Opelu mama

‘Opelu, or mackerel scad, is a common tropical fish found around the world in huge schools either inshore or in the open ocean

‘Opelu are black metallic to blue green and are silvery white along the belly. Their tails are yellow-green and have a small black spot on its operculum, or gill plate. ‘Opelu resembles a mackerel with a long and slender body, similar to that of Akule, but more elongated. It has a sweet, oily flavor similar to mackerel and is great for grilling. ‘Opelu are unique in that they spend their life between two marine habitats, the coral reef and open ocean. They are classified as “coastal pelagic” fish and can grow up to 18 inches. ‘Opelu aggregate when spawning, whereby they spawn pelagic eggs that hatch into pelagic larvae. The traditional Hawaiian kapu system for managing fisheries banned ‘Opelu fishing from March through July during the its spawning period. Juvenile fish swim inshore where they mature and form adult schools by the time they reach sexual maturity at seven to 10 inches, or about 18 months old. They feed predominantly on zooplankton, or small fish, and crustaceans that live in the water column.

Summary of Distribution:
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)