Overview
Extremely powerful and fast predator of the tropical Atlantic. Famous for explosive fights and brute strength.
Identification
Black spot at the base of pectoral finsSmall and smooth scalesLong pectoral finsWhite-silver undersideProminent dorsal and anal lobesLarge mouthScutes present in front of dorsal finsForked tail
- Body
- Robust and streamlined body with a powerful, muscular structure.
- Colouration
- Generally silver-colored with dark fins and a distinctive black spot at the base of the pectoral fins.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not evident
- Growth
- Fast, grows quickly in food-rich environments
Taxonomy
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Caranx crysosCaranx melampygusCaranx latusCaranx sexfasciatusCaranx ignobilis
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, open_sea, estuaries
- Preferred bottom
- sand, mud, reef
- Geographic distribution
- Found along the western Atlantic coasts, from Massachusetts to Brazil, including Caribbean islands.
- Micro-habitat
- Tends to form large schools near shores and coral reefs, sometimes venturing into deeper or mixed estuarine waters.
Estuaries provide important growth areas for juveniles of the species.
Presence by sea area
Af Atlantico Trop EPeak
Na Costa Est SudPeak
Na Golfo MessicoPeak
Na CaraibiPeak
Sa Brasile NordPeak
Sa Brasile EstPeak
Sa Brasile SudPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- small fish, crustaceans, squid
- Secondary prey
- shrimp, octopus, cuttlefish
- Occasional prey
- algae, jellyfish
- Feeding behaviour
- Agile and fast predator, often hunts in groups to push prey to the surface or against barriers.
- Natural predators
- sharks, dolphins, large pelagic fish
Adapts its diet to environmental conditions and prey availability.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- high
- Migration
- Resident in coastal areas but makes seasonal migrations to warmer waters.
- Seasonal behaviour
- More active in spring and summer when they gather for spawning.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles tend to congregate in estuaries, shallow bottoms, and lagoons for protection.
- Adults
- Adults can form large schools and are known for their aggression while hunting.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- May, June, July
- Spawning depth
- between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic and translucent eggs, small in size
- Larval stage
- Larvae develop quickly in surface waters and have a high mortality rate in early stages.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Crevalle jack
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, tramonto
Nightraro
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Extremely aggressive. Attacks everything on the surface.
Medium
Actively hunts in schools.
High
Less active but still present.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
reefscoral barriersestuary mouthsharbor areas
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
spinningtrollingdrift fishingcasting
Other applicable
SpinningShore JiggingBeach FishingBolentinoLive BaitingRock FishingSpinning MedioSpinning PesanteSurfcasting
Recommended baits
live minnowsartificial luresfresh squidshrimp
Baits by pressure
Low
Feather jigMetal jig medio (40-100g)Minnow affondantePaddle tail softbaitPopper medioShad softbaitStickbait WTD
Medium
Sardina vivaAcciuga vivaCefalo vivoEsca viva (generica)Gambero vivoPezzo di pesce
High
Feather jigMetal jig medio (40-100g)Minnow affondante
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Fights fiercely, quickly accelerating and using the environment to escape.
- Handling
- Use wet cloths to avoid damaging the skin.
- Release
- Release quickly and carefully, preferably in water.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle world record for the Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) is a 27.31 kg specimen caught in Laguna de Catemaco, Mexico, in 2012. A very popular sport fishing species, the largest individuals can exceed 30 kg.
- In the kitchen
- Not particularly valued in the kitchen for its meat texture, but can be smoked or marinated.
- Cultural notes
- Often depicted in Caribbean artwork due to its significance as a sport quarry.
- Historical notes
- In the past, the species was more common along the eastern US coast, but climate changes have partially shifted its distribution.
