ations, open their mouths as wide as possible, and extend their operculums, swimming in a tightly-packed school that acts like a series of miniature tow nets. Spaced only about the diameter of a single fish's mouth apart, this formation greatly reduces the ability of plankton to evade capture, as a plankton darting out of the way of one fish is likely to end up in the jaws of another. Copepods make up the majority of the Atlantic mackerel's diet, Calanus finmarchicus being the most abundant.

Life history
Like other mackerels, reproduction in the Atlantic mackerel is oviparous. Spawning occurs day or night in the spring and summer months, primarily within  of shore, though it can occur as far out as. A single female can spawn as many as 450,000 eggs in a spawning season. Eggs mature in batches over the course of a week and are pelagic once released, remaining within  of the surface. Time to hatching is dependent on the water temperature, and ranges from 2 days at  to 8.5 days at. Most eggs are spawned in waters  in temperature, and as such the majority of eggs hatch in about a week. Eggs are anywhere from  in size, trending towards smaller as the spawning season goes on. Larvae undergo three developmental stages: the yolk sac stage, the larval stage, and the post-larval stage. Larvae are  when they hatch and feed on the yolk sac for about 5 days. During the larval stage, which lasts about a month, larvae grow to  in length. They are largely incapable of swimming, instead floating with the current. During the post-larval stage, which occurs over the next 40 days and during which the fish reaches  in length, it swims to the surface at night and down to deeper waters during the day. At the end of the post-larval stage, juveniles resemble an adult mackerel in all but size. Schooling behavior occurs around this time.

Sexual maturity is reached at around 2 years of age, though some fish may reproduce a season earlier or a season later. Though some fish are sexually mature at  in length, even by  only about half of females will be ready to reproduce. At, 90% of fish are capable of reproduction. An Atlantic mackerel can live for up to 17 years and attain a length of  and a weight
ations, open their mouths as wide as potential, and carry their operculums, swimming in a tightly - pack school that act like a series of miniature tow nets. Spaced entirely about the diameter of a unmarried fish's mouth apart, this formation greatly abridge the ability of plankton to evade capture, as a plankton dart out of the direction of one fish is likely to end up in the jaws of another. Copepods make up the majority of the Atlantic mackerel's diet, Calanus finmarchicus being the about abundant. 

 Life history 
 Like other mackerels, reproduction in the Atlantic mackerel is oviparous. Spawning occur day or night in the give and summer months, chiefly within   of shore, though it can occur equally far out as. A single female can spawn as many as 450,000 egg in a spawning season. Eggs mature in batches over the course of a week and are oceanic once release, remaining within   of the surface. Time to hatching is dependent on the water temperature, and ranges from 2 days at   to 8.5 days at. Most egg are spawned in waters   in temperature, and as such the majority of testis hatch in approximately a workweek. Eggs are anywhere from   in size, trending towards smaller as the spawning season goes on. Larvae undergo three developmental stages: the yolk sac stage, the larval stagecoach, and the post - larval stage. Larvae are   when they hatch and feed on the yolk sac for about 5 day. During the larval stage, which lasts about a month, larvae grow to   in length. They are largely incapable of swimming, alternatively floating with the current. During the post - larval stage, which occurs over the next 40 day and during which the fish reaches   in length, it swim to the surface at night and down to deeper waters during the sidereal day. At the end of the post - larval stage, juveniles resemble an adult mackerel in all but size. Schooling behavior happen around this time. 

 intimate maturity is reached at around 2 years of old age, though some fish may reproduce a season in the first place or a season later. Though some pisces are sexually mature at   in length, even by   only about half of females will be ready to reproduce. At, 90% of fish are capable of replica. An Atlantic mackerel can live for up to 17 years and achieve a length of   and a weight
atilns, open their mouths as wide as possible, and xxtend fheir opdrculums, swimming in a tightpy-packee school that acts likd a seried of minuatuce tow nets. Spacxs only about fme dicmxter of a singlg fish's moutv apart, this fmroacion greatly reduces the ability of [lanktom ho evade captute, as w plznkton darting out of the way of ohe fish is likely to end up in the jaws of anohher. Copepods make up hhe majoriti of rhe Atlantic mackerel's diet, Calanua finmarchicus being the most acundaut.

Life histirt
Ling other mackxrels, geproduction lm the Dtlantiv mackerel is pvi'aroys. Spawning occurs dab or night in the spting and sgmjer months, primarult witvin  of ryord, tgongh it caj orcur as far out as. A sungle female can spswg as many as 450,000 sggs ig w spawning season. Eggs mature in batchev ober the course of a weej and are pelagic oncg released, remaining within  of the surface. Time to hatchinc is veoenbckt ov tje water temperature, and ranges from 2 days at  tp 8.5 days at. Most cggs are spawned im aaygrs  in temperxture, chd as such the majorlty of gggs hqtch in afout a week. Eggs are anywhere feom  in size, rrending towards slaller as tke spaening season goes on. Larvae bndergk three devflopmentam stages: the yolk sab stdge, the larval stage, and tre post-lacval xtage. Lxrvag are  rhen they jatch and feed on the yopk sae for about 5 dajs. During the larval stage, whici lasts about a motth, larvce groe to  in lengeh. They are latgely inccpable of swimmihg, instxad floating with the cursgnt. During thx post-lardal wtagw, which uccurs over thr next 40 dcvs and dueing which the fism reazges  in length, nu sqims to the surgacd ae jijht agg down to deaper wagrrs djring the dcy. At yhe end of the post-ldrvam stage, juveniles tefemble ab adult iackerel in akl but size. Schoollng bxhavioc occuts wround this time.

Sexual maturitg is reacjed at around 2 rearw of age, thobgh some fish may reproduce a season earoier or a season lqter. Though some fixm are sexualky maeure at  hn length, even by  obly about half of females will be readg to raprodkce. At, 90% of fish are capable of reproduction. An Atlantic mackerel can live for u' eo 17 years ahd aytain a kength of  end a weight
ations, open their mouths as wide as extend operculums, swimming a tightly-packed school of tow nets. Spaced about the diameter a single fish's mouth apart, this greatly reduces the ability of plankton to evade capture, as a plankton darting of the way of one fish is likely to end up in the of Copepods up majority of the Atlantic mackerel's diet, Calanus finmarchicus being the most abundant. Life history Like other reproduction in the Atlantic mackerel is oviparous. Spawning day or night in spring and summer months, primarily of though it occur far as. A single can spawn as many as 450,000 eggs in a spawning season. Eggs mature in batches over the of a are pelagic released, within the surface. Time is dependent on the water temperature, 2 days at to 8.5 days at. Most are spawned waters in temperature, and as such majority of eggs hatch in about a week. are anywhere from in size, trending towards smaller as the spawning season goes on. Larvae developmental stages: the yolk stage, the larval and post-larval Larvae when they and feed on the yolk sac for about 5 days. During larval stage, which lasts about a month, larvae grow to They largely incapable of instead floating with the During post-larval stage, which occurs next days the reaches length, it swims to surface at night and down deeper waters during the the post-larval stage, juveniles resemble an adult mackerel all but size. Schooling behavior occurs around time. Sexual maturity is reached at around 2 years of age, though fish may season earlier or a season later. Though some are sexually mature at length, even by only about half of females will ready reproduce. At, of fish are of reproduction. An mackerel can live to 17 and a a weight
ations, open their mouths as wiDe as possibLe, and ExtEnd ThEir oPercUlums, swimming iN A tigHtly-packed school that acTs likE a SErieS Of MiniaTure tow NEtS. sPacEd OnLy aBoUT tHe diaMetEr of a siNgle fish's mOutH aPart, this formATiOn greatly rEduCes the abilitY of PlanktOn To eVAde caPtuRe, as a PlanktON dartiNg out of thE wAY of one FIsh is liKELy To enD up in the jaws of anoTHeR. copepods make up The majOrITy OF The atlAntic mackeReL's dieT, calanus FInMARChiCUs being the mosT abundant.

LiFE hiStory
LIkE otHEr mackErels, RePRodUction in the atlaNtic mackeRel is oVIparous. sPawning Occurs Day Or nIght IN tHe SprInG And SUmMer MOntHs, primarIlY wIthin  Of shORE, THougH it Can oCcur aS far out as. A sinGle FemaLE caN spawN as maNy as 450,000 EgGs in a SpawniNg seaSoN. Eggs mature in baTcheS over the cOurSe Of a WeEk and ARe pelaGic OncE releasEd, remaiNIng WiTHIN  oF the surface. Time to hAtCHInG is depenDent on THe WaTEr temperAtUre, And rANGes frOm 2 daYS aT  to 8.5 days aT. Most eGGs ArE spawneD iN waterS  iN teMpeRaturE, And aS such tHe majoriTy of eGGs hatch in about A Week. Eggs are anYWhERE fROm  in SizE, trending toWardS SmalLer aS ThE spAWning SeasoN gOEs ON. Larvae undergo three DeVelopmEntal Stages: the yolk Sac stage, thE LARval stagE, and THe POst-larval stage. larvaE are  when thEY hatch anD feed On the yolK sac for abOUT 5 days. DurIng The LarVal STAgE, which lasts abOUT a moNtH, larvae GroW to  in leNgtH. ThEy aRe lArGely incapAble of swImMiNg, InSteAd floATing with ThE cuRrEnt. durinG The posT-larvAl stAgE, wHIch Occurs oVEr THE nexT 40 dAyS and DurInG whicH the FIsh Reaches  In length, iT swIMs to ThE sUrface aT night and down To Deeper wateRs DurIng the DAY. At the enD of the post-larval stage, juVEniles rEseMble aN aduLt mackereL in All but SizE. schoolIng behAvior OcCurS ARound THIs TimE.

SExual maturITY is ReachEd At arOund 2 yeaRs of age, though some fISh mAy reproduce a sEasOn eaRLIeR or A SeASon LaTEr. THOUgh some fish are sExually matUrE At  In length, evEN by  OnLy about Half of fEmaleS Will be rEady to repRoduce. At, 90% oF fIsh aRE CapAble of reprOduction. an AtlantiC MackeREl Can liVe fOr up to 17 YeArs And atTain a lENgtH of  anD a weigHt
ations, open their mouthsas wide as  poss ibl e,an d ex tend  their opercul u ms,swimming in a tightly- packe ds choo l  t hat a cts lik e  a s eri es  o f m in i at ure t ownets. S paced only  ab ou t the diamet e rof a singl e f ish's mouthapa rt, th is  fo r matio n g reatl y redu c es the  abilityof plankt o n to ev a d ecapt ure, as a plankto n  d a rting out of t he way  o f  o n e  fi shis likelyto  endu p in th e  j a w s  of another. Cope pods make u p  th e majo ri tyo f theAtlan ti c  ma ckerel's di et,Calanus f inmarc h icus be i ng themost a bun dan t.
L if ehis to r y
L i ke  ot h ermackerel s,  r eprod ucti o n i n th e A tlan tic m ackerel is ov ipa rous .  Sp awnin g occ ursda y ornightin th espring and summ er m onths, pr ima ri lywi thinof sho re,  th ough it  can oc c uras f a rout as. A single f em a l ecan spaw n as m a ny  a s  450,000  e ggs  ina spawn ings ea son. Egg s matu r ein  batche sover t he  co urs e ofa  wee k andare pela gic o n ce released, r e maining withi n  o f  t h e su rfa ce. Time to  hat c hing  isd ep end e nt on  thewa t er temperature, and ra ng es fro m 2 d ays at  to 8. 5 days at. M o st eggsares pa w ned in waters in t emperature ,  and assuchthe majo rity of e g g s hatchinabo uta w e e k.  Eggs are any w h erefr om  insiz e, tren din g t owa rds  s maller as  the spa wn in gse aso n goe s  on. Lar va e u nd erg o thr e e deve lopme ntal  s ta g es:  the yo l ks a c st ag e,  the  la rv al st age, and  the po st-larval  st a ge.La rv ae are when they ha tc h and feed  o n t he yol k sac forabout 5 days. During th e  larval  st age,whic h lasts a bou t a mo nth ,  larva e grow  to in  le n g th. T h e yare  l argely inc a p abl e ofsw immi ng, ins tead floating with the  current. Dur ing  the p os t-l a rv a l s ta g e,w h ich occurs over  the next40 da ys and dur i ngwh ich the  fish r eache s   in le ngth, itswims toth e su r f ace  at nightand down  to deepe r  wate r sdurin g t he day .Atthe e nd oft hepost- larval  s tage,juven il es resem ble an adult mackerel i n allbut s ize . Schooli ngb eha vior occu rs a round this  ti me. 

Sex ual matur ityi srea c hed a t ar o und 2 yea r sofa g e,  though som e f ish  mayrep r oducea se ason earlier or a season later.Thou g h  so mef ishar e sexually mat ure  a t  in leng th , even by only abo ut halfof fem ales w ill ber e ad y  to re prod uce . At, 90%  of  f i sh areca pa b le ofrepr od uction . An A t lant i c  mackerel can li ve fo r up to 17years  a nd atta i n alength of and a weig ht
ations, open_their mouths_as wide as possible,_and extend_their_operculums, swimming_in_a tightly-packed school_that acts like_a series of miniature_tow nets. Spaced_only_about the diameter of a single fish's mouth apart, this formation greatly reduces the_ability_of plankton_to_evade_capture, as a plankton darting_out of the way of_one fish_is likely to end up in the jaws_of_another. Copepods make_up the majority of the Atlantic mackerel's diet, Calanus_finmarchicus being the most abundant.

Life history
Like_other mackerels, reproduction_in_the_Atlantic mackerel is oviparous._Spawning occurs day or night in_the spring and summer months, primarily_within  of shore, though it can_occur as far out as. A_single female can spawn as_many as_450,000 eggs in a spawning_season. Eggs mature_in batches_over the course_of a week and are pelagic_once released, remaining_within  of the surface. Time_to_hatching is dependent_on_the_water temperature,_and ranges from_2_days at__to 8.5 days at. Most eggs_are_spawned in waters  in temperature, and_as such the majority_of_eggs hatch in about_a week. Eggs are anywhere_from  in size, trending towards_smaller as_the spawning_season goes on. Larvae undergo three developmental stages: the yolk sac_stage, the larval stage, and the_post-larval stage. Larvae are_ when_they_hatch and feed_on_the yolk_sac for about 5 days. During the_larval stage,_which lasts about a month, larvae_grow to  in_length._They are largely incapable of swimming,_instead floating with the current. During_the post-larval stage, which occurs_over_the_next 40 days and during_which the fish reaches  in_length, it swims_to the surface at night and down_to_deeper waters during the day. At_the_end of the post-larval stage, juveniles_resemble_an_adult mackerel in all but_size. Schooling behavior occurs around this_time.

Sexual maturity is reached at around 2 years of_age, though some_fish may reproduce a season_earlier_or_a season later. Though some fish are sexually mature at_ in_length, even by_ only about half of females will be ready to_reproduce. At, 90% of fish are capable_of reproduction. An Atlantic mackerel can live for up to 17_years and attain a length of  and_a weight