Cape Horse Mackerel

Trachurus capensis

The cape horse mackerel (Trachurus capensis) is a pelagic schooling fish reaching up to 60 cm. It has a streamlined silvery body with a distinct lateral line of enlarged scutes and a greenish-blue back. Found in the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian Ocean from Angola to Mozambique, it inhabits continental shelf waters at depths of 0 to 300 meters. This species forms enormous schools that can contain millions of individuals, creating spectacular bait balls that attract marine predators including dolphins, seals, sharks, and seabirds. It feeds on small crustaceans, fish larvae, and zooplankton. Divers along the South African coast, particularly during the Sardine Run and other seasonal events, may encounter massive aggregations of horse mackerel being driven into bait balls by predators, creating some of the most action-packed diving experiences in the world.