Torpedo scad
A fast, torpedo-shaped marine fish found across the Indo-Pacific.
The torpedo scad is a pelagic fish in the jack family, distributed widely across tropical Indo-Pacific waters. It supports major commercial fisheries in Asia and is caught for food, bait, and sport, with catches rising significantly in recent decades.
- Maximum recorded length is 80 cm with a weight of 4 kg
- Annual catch reached 107,000 tonnes in 2007 excluding India
- Identified by detached finlets behind dorsal and anal fins
- Found in surface waters from South Africa to Tonga
What it is
This moderately large marine fish belongs to the jack and horse mackerel family. It has an elongated, subcylindrical body that compresses near the tail, resembling a torpedo. The species features two separate dorsal fins and a series of detached finlets behind both the dorsal and anal fins. Its colour ranges from bluish-grey or green on the back to silvery white on the belly, with a distinct black spot on the gill cover. Adults typically measure between 30 and 40 cm, though they can reach 80 cm.
Where it lives
The fish inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Its range extends from South Africa and the Red Sea eastward to Tonga, and north to Japan and South Korea. It is common around the Indonesian Archipelago and along Australian coasts as far south as Sydney and Fremantle. The species lives in surface waters of both open oceans and protected inshore areas but avoids estuaries and turbid environments.
How it lives
As a predatory schooling species, it hunts in the upper water column. The diet shifts with size but always includes fish as the primary prey. It also consumes cephalopods like squid, as well as crustaceans such as prawns and crabs. Filter feeding on plankton occurs alongside active hunting. Larger predators include requiem sharks and drum fish. The fish moves into more southern waters during summer when temperatures rise.
Breeding and life cycle
Females reach sexual maturity at 22 cm, while males mature at roughly 26 cm. Spawning peaks between March and July in Indian waters, with the highest larval abundance in June. The eggs are spherical, transparent, and pelagic, containing a single oil globule. Larvae have 24 myomeres. Recruitment events mainly occur between May and August, guiding fisheries management recommendations.
Fish and people
Commercial fisheries in the central Indo-Pacific rely heavily on this species. Annual catches rose from 70,000 tonnes in 1997 to 107,000 tonnes in 2007, with Indonesia and Malaysia as top contributors. Fishers use nets, trawls, and lines to catch them. The flesh is marketed fresh, dried, or salted, though it is considered only marginal table fare. Anglers catch them for sport on light tackle, and they serve as live bait for larger gamefish. Heavy metal levels may be high in polluted areas.
Questions people ask about Torpedo scad
What does the torpedo scad eat?
It is a predator that eats fish, squid, cuttlefish, and crustaceans like prawns and crabs. It also filter feeds on plankton. Fish remain the dominant prey item regardless of the size of the scad.
Is the torpedo scad good to eat?
The flesh is considered fair to good quality and is sold fresh, dried, or salted. Chefs may fry, steam, or grill it. However, it is not highly popular as table fare and should be avoided if caught in polluted waters due to heavy metals.
Where can you find torpedo scad?
They live in tropical and subtropical surface waters across the Indo-Pacific. Their range spans from South Africa and the Red Sea to Tonga, and north to Japan. They prefer clear inshore and offshore oceanic waters.
How big do torpedo scad get?
The largest recorded individual was 80 cm long and weighed 4 kg. However, most individuals caught are smaller, typically measuring between 30 and 40 cm in length.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Torpedo scad", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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