Overview
Large pelagic predator, extremely powerful fighter, often in schools over reefs and wrecks.
Identification
Dark diagonal stripe through the eyeForked tailDarker tail lobeSmall dorsal finsBlue lines on the sidesProminent lower jaw
- Body
- The body is elongated and streamlined, with a pointed snout.
- Colouration
- The color is typically blue-silver on the back, fading to white on the sides and belly.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not very pronounced
- Growth
- Moderate, with faster growth in the early years.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Seriola fasciataSeriola zonataSeriola rivolianaSeriola lalandiSeriola carpenteri
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- open_sea, reefs, coast
- Preferred bottom
- reef, sand
- Geographic distribution
- Primarily found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and occasionally Indo-Pacific.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers shallow reefs, often near shipwrecks and coral reefs.
Avoids too cold waters and areas with little shelter and hiding spots.
Presence by sea area
Tirreno NordPeak
Tirreno CentroPeak
Tirreno SudPeak
Adriatico NordPeak
Adriatico CentroPeak
Adriatico SudPeak
Ionio NordPeak
Ionio CentroPeak
Sardegna OvestPeak
Sardegna EstPeak
Sicilia TirrenoPeak
Sicilia Ionio CanalePeak
Eu Mediterraneo OvestPeak
Eu Mediterraneo EstPeak
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Af Mar Rosso NordPeak
Af Mar Rosso CentroPeak
Na Costa Est CentroPeak
Na Costa Est SudPeak
Na Golfo MessicoPeak
Na CaraibiPeak
Na Baja CaliforniaPeak
Sa Brasile EstPeak
As Mar Cinese EstPeak
As Giappone SudPeak
Au Gbr SudPeak
Au Costa Est TemperataPeak
Open Atlantico TropPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- small fish, squid, shrimp
- Secondary prey
- cephalopods, crabs, fish larvae
- Occasional prey
- jellyfish, octopuses
- Feeding behaviour
- The Ricciola is an aggressive predator that actively hunts its prey, often in groups.
- Natural predators
- bull shark, bluefish, tunas
Prefers a diet of smaller fish and cephalopods for the high protein content.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- small_groups
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Performs seasonal migrations depending on water temperatures.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Moves closer to the coast in spring and summer for spawning, heading offshore in winter.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles are often found in more coastal areas and among seaweed.
- Adults
- Adults prefer deeper waters and are often found in open areas or on shallow banks.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- May, June, July
- Spawning depth
- between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, small and floating.
- Larval stage
- Pelagic larval stage, initially plankton-dependent.
- Sexual maturity
- 4-5 years
When to catch Greater amberjack
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Daymattino, tarda mattina
Nighttramonto, prima sera
This species shows peak fishing activity in summer, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in autumn and winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Actively hunts mid-water and surface.
Medium
Regular activity, follows schools.
High
Deeper, less aggressive.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
16°COptimal zone: 20-27°C30°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
reefsshipwrecksshoalscoral reefs
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
trollingbottom fishingspinninglive baiting
Other applicable
SpinningPoppingShore JiggingVertical JiggingSlow JiggingLive BaitingTraina CostieraTrolling OceanicoSpinning PesanteBolentinoBolentino MedioBolentino PesantePesca A Mosca In MareRock FishingSpinning MedioSpinning VeloceStreamerTraina Col Vivo
Recommended baits
sand eelsgarfishcuttlefishsquid
Baits by pressure
Low
InchikuKabura / Tai rubberMetal jig medio (40-100g)Metal jig pesante (100-300g)Popper grande (GT)Slow pitch jigSoft plastic grande (20-30cm)
Medium
Calamaro vivoSardina vivaSgombro vivoSugarello vivoAcciuga vivaCalamaro interoEsca viva (generica)
High
Calamaro vivoInchikuKabura / Tai rubber
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Strong and fast fighter, tends to dive deep and make sudden direction changes.
- Handling
- Use fishing gloves to avoid injury from spines or teeth.
- Release
- Release slowly back into the water to allow the fish to recover.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle world record for the Ricciola is 67.20 kg, caught in 2010 off the coast of Japan. In Italy, some of the largest reported catches in the Mediterranean exceed 50 kg, making it a prized trophy for sport fishermen.
- In the kitchen
- Highly esteemed in cooking, used in dishes like sashimi and grilled.
- Cultural notes
- Often appears in Mediterranean fishermen's tales, symbolizing strength and speed.
- Historical notes
- Fish similar to the Ricciola have been caught in the Mediterranean since Roman times.
