Jacks & Trevally
[family Carangidae, Genus Caranx, various species   |   Genus Seriola (amberjacks)   |   others]

Common names within family Carangidae are very disorderly, including Jacks, Amberjacks, Pompanos, Trevally and Scads, without clear differentiation as to which are which. This page deals with those most commonly called Jacks and Trevally, which tend to be some of the larger of the Carangidae, without too much regard to what genus they belong to. With 30 genera, the naming mess is impossible to make orderly.

Blue Runner - [Bluestripe Jack, Hardtail Jack, Caranx crysos]

Belonging to the same family as Pompanos, Blue Runners are found on both sides of the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, generally near reefs, They can grow to 27 inches and 11 pounds, but the photo specimen, caught wild off Alabama, was 13 inches and weighed 1 pound 2 oz.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Crevalle Jack - [Jackfish Caranx caninus (Pacific) Caranx hippos (Atlantic)]

The Pacific and Atlantic fish may actually be the same species. The Pacific, is found from Southern California to Peru and may grow to almost 40 inches and almost 40 pounds but the photo specimen is 11 inches and 11 ounces. Atlantic fish are found from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and have grown to over 48 inches and 70 pounds.   Prep & Cooking Details.

Yellowtail Amberjack - [California Yellowtail, Seriola lalandi]
This large jack is found in warm waters all around the Pacific, the Pacific Islands and the South Atlantic below the Equator. This is a prize game fish off the coast of California and can grow to over 8 feet long and over 200 pounds but the photo specimen was 27 inches and 7.44 pounds.   Prep & Cooking Details.