Also known as
- Silver Trevally US
- Skipjack Trevally US
- Thick-lipped Jack US
- Toothed Trevally US
- Silver Bream US
Identification
A moderately deep-bodied compressed temperate-and-subtropical schooling jack — slim head and neat build deliver crisp dogged runs. Males and females alike.
- Silver body with greenish metallic sheen on the back
- Prominent black spot on the upper edge of the gill cover — a key identifying feature
- Bright yellow tail, dorsal fin, anal fin, and pectoral fins
- Yellow stripe running from the gill covers to the tail
- Small protrusible jaws and notably soft mouth tissue
Where it holds
- Inshore
- Offshore
- Coral Reefs
- Rocky Shores
Behaviour
A schooling temperate-and-subtropical reef-and-coastal predator working the upper 80m around offshore reef summits, rocky points, sand-flat edges, harbour mouths, and current lines. Inshore populations move daily along the shore; offshore populations hold tighter to reef summits. Hunts opportunistically — bottom invertebrates and small prey suction-fed through a protrusible jaw. Most active above 19°C (66°F); mature fish migrate seasonally between inshore and offshore reef.
Diet: Small Baitfish, Pilchards, Anchovies, Prawns, Worms, Squid, Shellfish
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Live Lining
The dominant New Zealand, Australian, and Japanese light-tackle approach — drift a peeled prawn, fresh pilchard, squid strip, or shellfish bait on a 1/0-3/0 hook with 10-20lb fluorocarbon leader near reef edges, harbour mouths, and current lines. Float-fish for surface-feeding schools or bottom-fish with shellfish for deeper fish. Light tackle reads the subtle bites; the soft mouth requires careful pressure and a landing net.
Jigging
A productive approach for surface and reef-summit schools — drop or cast a 14-40g tungsten micro-jig, blade bait, or compact slow-pitch jig over reef summits and surface schools and work it with sharp short jerks followed by controlled drops. Light PE0.8-1.5 jigging tackle, 12-20lb fluorocarbon leader. Soft mouth demands gentle pressure on the fight.
Spinning
An accessible inshore approach — cast a 3-4 inch soft plastic on a 1/8-3/8oz jig head, small metal slug, or compact bibbed minnow to schooled fish along coastlines, harbour mouths, and current lines. Moderate to fast retrieves with brief pauses imitate fleeing baitfish. PE0.6-1.2 spinning rod, 8-15lb fluorocarbon leader.
Trolling
An effective method for locating schools across long stretches of coastline — pull small spoons, soft-plastic swimbaits, and shallow-diving plugs at 2-4 knots along coastlines, around offshore islands, and over reef summits. Slow speeds match the suction-feeding style. PE1-1.5 trolling tackle, 15-25lb fluorocarbon leader.
Spear Fishing
Inshore Spearfishing
A productive Australasian, Japanese, and Mediterranean approach — free-dive offshore reefs and rocky coastal structure in 10-40m where schools aggregate during warmer months. Fast but approachable when feeding; schools can be skittish when pressured. Aim for the head — soft mouth tissue makes a body shot less reliable. 90-110cm gun with double bands and 7.0mm shaft.
