The Jacks (Carangidae): The Jacks are members of the Carangidae Family. The Jacks are found in all tropical and subtropical seas, with 140 individual species having been identified to date. They are voracious predators feeding primarily on small fishes. They frequently travel in large schools and roam considerable distances, normally following schools of smaller bait fish. They are generally silver in color, and exhibit a wide range in size from about 10 inches and 1 pound, to 6 feet and 90 pounds.

The Jacks are powerful midwater swimmers characterized by their streamlined, aerodynamic shape, with a latterly compressed body, slender tail base and deeply forked caudal fin. The posterior scales of the lateral line are modified into spiny, plate-like structures known as scutes (see juvenile Bigeye Jack photo). Many Jacks have elongated rays extending from their dorsal and anal fins (see juvenile African Pompano or Roosterfish photos).

Jacks spawn pelagically, releasing large numbers of tiny buoyant eggs that travel the globe, carried by currents. Most Jacks are esteemed as food fishes and are targeted by both commercial and sport fishermen. Jacks are found over rocky structure, along the edge of reefs and adjacent to large “drop-offs.”

Members of the Jack Family found in Mexican waters and represented in the fish identification section of this website include: the African Pompano, Alectis ciliaris; and Amberjack, Pacific Amberjack, Almaco Jack, Seriola rivoliana; Bigeye Jack, Bigeye Trevally, or Bigeye Crevalle Jack, Caranx sexfasciatus; Blackblotch Pompano or Silver Pompano, Trachinotus kennedyi; Bluefin Trevally, Caranx melampygus; Caballito, Goggle Eye, or Bigeye Scad, Selar crumenophthalmus; Chihuil, Pacific Jack Mackerel or California Horse Mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus; Cocinero Jack, Caranx vinctus; Florida Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus; Fortune Jack, Peruvian Jack or Darkfin Jack, Seriola peruana; Gafftopsail Pompano, Trachinotus rhodopusi; Golden Jack, Golden Trevally or Palometa Amarilla, Gnathanodon speciosus; Green Jack, Caranx caballus; Island Jack or Island Trevally, Caranx orthogrammus; Longjaw Leatherjack or Bigjaw Leatherjack, Oligoplites altus; Mexican Lookdown, Selene brevoortii; Pacific Bumperfish, Chloroscombrus orqueta; Pacific Jack Crevalle, Caranx caninus; Pacific Moonfish, Selene peruviana; Paloma Pompano, Trachinotus paitensis; Pilot fish, Naucrates ductor; Roosterfish, Nematistius pectoralis; Rainbow Runner, Elagatis bipinnulata; Shortfinned Butterfish or Salema Butterfish, Peprilus snyderi; Shortjaw Leatherjack, Oligoplites refulgens; Shortfin Scad, Decapterus macrosoma; Steel Pompano, Trachinotus stilbe; Threadfin Jack or Thread Pompano, Caranx otrynter; Yellowtail, California Yellowtail or Yellowtail Amberjack, Seriola dorsalis lalandi.