In the western Atlantic, they have been found off Nova Scotia and Bermuda, south to Rio de Janeiro,[9] although they do not seem common in the Gulf of Mexico.

[12] In the Indian Ocean, mackerel scad have been found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden they are also known from South Africa, the Mascarenes, the Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.

[2] They are a somewhat popular fish for human consumption, normally eaten split and fried, but are more often used as bait, since large gamefish such as the blue-spotted grouper, giant trevally, and the onespot snapper are all known to feed on them.

Filipino students near Calasiao have also created a twist on the Lumpiang Shanghai dish by mixing shredded Mackerel scad and ginisang munggo.

The two ingredients are combined with a mixture of minced onions, garlic, julienned carrots and papaya, thereafter placed inside spring roll wrappers and deep fried.