Types of Scad Fish: 7 Scad Species from Vietnam
Types of Scad Fish: A Guide to 7 Scad Species from Vietnam
Scad fish are small-to-medium pelagic fish of the jack family (Carangidae), prized across Asia for their firm texture, mild flavor and affordability. From round scad (galunggong) to bigeye and yellowtail scad, these species are among the most widely traded wild-caught fish in Vietnam. This guide explains the main types of scad fish, their scientific and commercial names, where they are found in Vietnam, and how to source each one from Baseafood, a Vietnam scad fish supplier and exporter.
What Is a Scad Fish?
A scad is a pelagic schooling fish in the family Carangidae, which also includes jacks and trevallies. Scads are typically silver-bodied, torpedo-shaped and fast-swimming, feeding on plankton and small organisms in warm coastal waters. They are a dietary staple across Southeast Asia — grilled, fried, dried or canned — and a high-volume export product for Vietnam.
The 7 Main Types of Scad Fish in Vietnam
| Scad species | Scientific name | Common / local names |
|---|---|---|
| Layang / Shortfin Scad | Decapterus macrosoma | Galunggong, Cá Nục thuôn |
| Round Scad | Decapterus maruadsi | Galunggong, Cá Nục gai |
| Redtail Scad | Decapterus kurroides | Redtail scad, Cá Nục đỏ đuôi |
| Bigeye Scad | Selar crumenophthalmus | Matang baka, Cá Tráo mắt to |
| Yellowtail Scad | Atule mate | Salay-salay, Cá Ngân |
| Yellowstripe Scad | Selaroides leptolepis | Selar kuning, Cá Chỉ vàng |
| Hardtail Scad | Megalaspis cordyla | Torpedo scad, horse mackerel, Cá Sòng gió |
1. Layang Scad / Shortfin Scad (Decapterus macrosoma)
Layang scad, also called shortfin scad or galunggong, is a slender round scad of the genus Decapterus. It is one of the most consumed fish in Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines where "galunggong" is a household staple.
- Scientific name:Decapterus macrosoma
- Common names: Shortfin scad, Layang (Malaysia/Indonesia), Galunggong (Philippines), Cá Nục thuôn (Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Found along the central and south-central coast in warm offshore waters; caught wild year-round, with stronger landings in the warmer months.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Layang Scad, wild-caught and IQF frozen for importers and foodservice buyers. → Frozen Layang Scad / Round Scad (Galunggong)
2. Round Scad / Galunggong, Cigar Minnow (Decapterus maruadsi)
Round scad is a classic galunggong-type Decapterus, with a rounded silver body and a small keeled tail. It is a high-volume food fish across Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia, popular fried, braised or dried.
- Scientific name:Decapterus maruadsi
- Common names: Round scad, Japanese scad, Galunggong (Philippines), Cigar Minnow, Cá Nục gai(Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Abundant in the Gulf of Tonkin and central Vietnamese waters; wild-caught year-round.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Scad (Galunggong, Cigar Minnow), graded by size for retail, foodservice and processing. → Frozen Round Scad (Galunggong)
3. Redtail Scad (Decapterus kurroides)
Redtail scad is a Decapterus species recognised by its distinctive reddish tail fin. It has firm flesh and is valued for grilling and frying.
- Scientific name:Decapterus kurroides
- Common names: Redtail scad, Cá Nục đỏ đuôi (Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Found in deeper coastal waters along the central and southern coast; wild-caught, available seasonally.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Redtail Scad, wild-caught from Vietnamese waters. → Frozen Redtail Scad
4. Bigeye Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus)
Bigeye scad is instantly recognised by its unusually large eyes. It is widely used in Asian cuisine and as a popular panfish.
- Scientific name:Selar crumenophthalmus
- Common names: Bigeye scad, Matang baka (Philippines), Akule (Hawaii), Cá Tráo mắt to (Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Common throughout central and southern coastal waters; wild-caught year-round.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Bigeye Scad, IQF frozen and size-graded for export. → Frozen Bigeye Scad Whole Round
5. Yellowtail Scad (Atule mate)
Yellowtail scad is a slender scad with a yellowish tail, popular across Southeast Asia as salay-salay. It has firm meat and a mild, delicate flavor.
- Scientific name:Atule mate
- Common names: Yellowtail scad, Salay-salay (Philippines), Cá Ngân (Vietnam), Me-aji / メアジ (Japan)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Found along the central and southern coast; wild-caught year-round.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Yellowtail Scad in a wide range of sizes. → Frozen Yellowtail Scad Whole Round
6. Yellowstripe Scad / Yellowstripe Trevally (Selaroides leptolepis)
Yellowstripe scad is a small scad marked by a bright golden stripe running along its body. It is hugely popular in Malaysia and Singapore as selar kuning, and in Vietnam as cá chỉ vàng.
- Scientific name:Selaroides leptolepis
- Common names: Yellowstripe scad, Selar kuning / Ikan kuning (Malaysia), Cá Chỉ vàng (Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Common in southern and south-central coastal waters; wild-caught year-round.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Yellowstripe Trevally, and also dried seasoned versions. → Frozen Yellowstripe Trevally Whole Round
7. Hardtail Scad / Torpedo Scad (Megalaspis cordyla)
Hardtail scad, also called torpedo scad or horse mackerel, is a larger, powerful scad with a hard, keeled tail base. Its firm, flavorful flesh suits grilling, drying and curries.
- Scientific name:Megalaspis cordyla
- Common names: Hardtail scad, torpedo scad, horse mackerel, Cá Sòng gió (Vietnam)
- Distribution & season in Vietnam: Widely distributed along the Vietnamese coast; wild-caught year-round.
At Baseafood: We supply Frozen Whole Round Hardtail Scad (Horse Mackerel), wild-caught and IQF frozen. → Frozen Hardtail Scad / Horse Mackerel Whole Round
Why Source Scad Fish from Baseafood Vietnam
Baseafood is a Vietnam scad fish supplier and exporter with over 50 years of seafood processing experience, supplying the full range of scad species - round scad, bigeye, yellowtail, yellowstripe, redtail and hardtail scad - as frozen whole round, wild-caught and IQF frozen. All products are processed under HACCP, BRC, IFS, ISO 22000, HALAL, FDA and EU-registered standards, with OEM and private-label options for importers, wholesalers, distributors and foodservice buyers worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions about Scad Fish
What is a scad fish?
A scad is a small pelagic fish of the jack family (Carangidae), with a silver, torpedo-shaped body. Common types include round scad, bigeye scad and yellowtail scad.
Which scad species does Baseafood supply?
Baseafood supplies layang/round scad (galunggong), redtail scad, bigeye scad, yellowtail scad, yellowstripe scad and hardtail scad, frozen whole round from Vietnam.
Is scad fish healthy?
Scad fish are a lean source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12 and selenium, making them a nutritious everyday fish.
Contact Baseafood - Vietnam Scad Fish Supplier & Exporter
Contact our sales team for more details on spec, packing, and pricing:
Ms. Nguyen · Email: nguyen.thao@baseafood.net · WhatsApp: +84 702 520 288
