[order Siluriformes]

Scad belong to the same family (Carangidae) as the mild and delectable Pompanos and the stronger flavored Jacks. They resemble mackerel in flavor, but a little milder and without so much oil. These fish are popular in the Philippines, so are most likely to be found in a fish market serving a Filipino community.

More on Fish Varieties.

Bigeye Scad - [Selar crumenophthalmus]
This is a "circumtropical" fish found all the way around the world above and below the equator, but it's interpretation of the "tropical" part is a bit loose since it's found as far north as Nova Scotia. It's a nocturnal fish traveling in schools of hundreds of thousands and can grow to 27 inches, but the photo specimen was 10 inches and weighed 7.1 ounces. I have seen this fish marketed in Los Angeles labeled "Hasa Hasa" which is properly the unrelated (but similar looking) Short Mackerel. This fish is kosher and is not threatened.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Hardtail Scad - [Torpedo Scad, Megalaspis cordyla]
This Indo-West Pacific fish is found from East Africa to Japan and very common around Indonesia. It can grow to 31 inches and nearly 9 pounds but the photo specimen was 11-1/2 inches and weighed 10 ounces. This is a highly commercial fish in Southeast Asia. Kosher and not threatened.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Mackerel Scad - [Cigarfish, Cigarminow (small), Galunggong (Philippine), Round Scad, Decapterus macarellus]

This fish, found worldwide, is not related to Mackerel, but can be treated similarly except when the Mackerel's oiliness is important (smoking, pickling). This fish can grow to 18 inches but the photo specimen was 15 inches long and weighed 1# 3oz. These fish have just enough scales to be kosher.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Round Scad - a group of mackerel shaped scads, all of the genus Decapterus, including Mackerel Scad (D. macarellus), Japanese Scad (D. maruadsi), Shortfin Scad (D. macrosoma), Round Scad (D. punctatus) and Indian Scad (D. russelli).

Shortfin Scad - [Round Scad, Decapterus macrosoma]
This Indo-Pacific scad is also found in the East Pacific from the coast of Baja California to Northern Peru. They can grow to over 14 inches, but the ones popular here (photo - California wild caught) are about 6-1/2 inches and weigh 2 ounces.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowstripe Scad - [Yellowstripe Trevally, Salay Salay, Selaroides leptolepis ]

One of a number of similar small deep bodied Scad called "Salay Salay" in the Philippines. These Indo-West Pacific fish, found from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines, can reach 8 inches but are marketed here much smaller. The photo specimen was 6-1/4 inches long, weighed 1.6 ounce and has a yellow stripe more distinct than many have.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowtail Scad - [Atule mate]
This Indo-Pacific fish is found from the east coast of Africa to Hawaii. The specimen in the photo was 11 inches and weighed 9 ounces.   Prep & Cooking Details.

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