Specimens of Atlantic Mackerel taken at Woods Hole ate chiefly copepods, and to a lesser extent amphipods, salps, appendicularians, and young herring.

[citation needed] Fossils of Scomber japonicus have been found in the Pliocene of Italy (age range: from 3 to 2.2 million years ago.).

The chub mackerel is widely distributed, usually found in the northwestern, southeastern, and northeastern Pacific.

Young mackerel live around sandy beaches or kelp beds, while adults are found in deeper waters in shallow banks to 1000 feet (300 m) deep.

Sometimes in females, ripe translucent eggs appear simultaneously with unripe ova in early stages of development; this is also seen with the Atlantic mackerel.

When in danger, the fish move close to the surface of the water to merge with the flickering light of the sun making them difficult to see from above, which protects them from predatory birds.

The countershading on their ventral surfaces likewise makes it difficult for larger predatory fish like tuna and barracuda to pick them out from the background.

[7] Known to fisherman as the hardhead, the chub mackerel is regularly fished and canned for human consumption, pet food, bait, or served fresh.

[9] According to nutrition specialists, the chub mackerel is a healthy meal, high in protein and rich in omega-3 and unsaturated fatty acids.

In the Sicilian culture, the chub mackerel is called a variety of names, strummu ucchiutu, varatulu scrummu, or occhiutu.