Fortune Jack Photos and Species Information for Fish Caught in Mexico
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Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack
Hojarán Fortuna
(Seriola peruana)
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Fish Identification Photos: Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: The Fortune Jack is one of the rarer and smaller members of the Carangidae or Jack Family found in Mexican waters.
The Fortune Jack's aerodynamic body has a metallic bronze sheen on top with white on the bottom. It has a short snout, a mouth that ends under the center of the eye pupil, and dark fins. The Fortune Jack does not have characteristic bars or stripes on its head or body. It is without scutes and has a lateral line with a slight arch over the pectoral region.
The Fortune Jack is very difficult to identify, being easily confused as a small Amberjack, Seriola rivoliana (which has a deeper body, with longer anal and dorsal fins, and dark stripe from its snout to the front of its dorsal fin); the Green Jack, Caranx caballus (pale fins, black spot at top of gill covers); or a small Yellowtail, Seriola lalandi (bronze stripe along the middle, yellow fins).
The Fortune Jack is a coastal pelagic species found in the first 100 feet of the water column. It is reported to reach a maximum length of 2 feet and 15 pounds and to reside only south of latitude 15 degrees north. However, pictured below are examples of fish caught well into the Sea of Cortez at 27.2 degrees north, and reaching 41 inches and 21 pounds.
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Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: Photo courtesy of John Snow.
Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: Caught with Capt. Pata in panga Salomé, 25 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico, in 80-degree water, in June 2006, in 100-foot deep water, on a traditional yo-yo iron. Size, approximately 32 inches. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.
Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: This jack found in the Cortez has gone misidentified for years. The Fortune Jack is usually thought to be a small Amberjack. It weighs about 8 to 15 pounds, is a rosy tan color, and is a distinct species. I have taken a number of them over the years off San Marcos Island, near Santa Rosalia, Sea of Cortez, Mexico. This fish was identified by Dr. Bob Shipp, Louisiana State University, and was featured in the July issue of Sportfishing magazine. It's a great scrapper and I think it should have respect by the fishing fraternity recognizing it. The fish was taken at the "110" seamount, 2 miles north of San Marcos Island. On May 16, 2001. These fish were especially common in 2001. They also showed up at the "Ranch" seamount, 3 miles southeast of Isla San Marcos in the same time period. In May of 2002, I saw several come into San Lucas Cove from the same places. Water temperatures were in the low 70s. Description, photo, and fish identification courtesy Jim Mori.
Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: Caught at East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico, November 2003. Photo courtesy Stan Moberly. Fish identification courtesy Dr. William Smith-Vaniz, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, Gainesville, FLa.
Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack, Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana: The book on Fortune Jacks is that they only grow to a maximum of 24 inches and 15 pounds. Either I caught a freak, or we need to rewrite the book. Mine measured 41 inches and weighed in at 21 pounds. Description and photo courtesy Rev. Jeff W. Rumble. |
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