Family: Trevallies

The blue trevally is a gregarious species occasionally encountered, especially in eastern Indonesia near sandy areas.

It can reach a few pounds which makes it coveted.

When alive, it is strongly striped vertically which combined with its round shape, makes it difficult to confuse with another species. However, the stripes disappear afterwards.

It is usually caught straightforwardly, and it’s an easy catch.

Unfortunately, it is not very tasty and I will not recommend it.

The long-nosed trevally occurs from the Indian Ocean to Australia, in biotopes similar to those where is found the gold-spotted trevally, i.e. reef or sand.

It is rare in Indonesia. It can be recognized by its angular body but a rather elongated nose, hence its name. It also has a black spot on the operculum, and a fleshy mouth. But its most particular characteristic is the sticky mucus which covers it, totally unique in the trevallies of Indonesian waters. It is literally slimly.

This trevally is vigorous but of medium size, rarely exceeding 5kg.

Its flesh is similar to that of the giant trevally, therefore medium. In case there are no other catches around…

The black-tip trevally caranx heberi is a small, very gregarious trevally, occasional in Indonesia.

It can reach a few pounds and like other jacks it is a vigorous fish. Its silhouette is strongly reminiscent of the brassy trevally caranx papuensis and the bigeye trevally caranx sexfasciatus, but it is easily differentiated by its bright yellow tail end with a black spot on the upper lobe.

It is usually taken through a direct approach or agachon, but it is not an easy catch due to its high mobility.

Unfortunately, its meat is not very tasty and I will not recommend it.

The bigeye trevally is a gregarious reef predator. It is very similar to its Atlantic cousin, the horse-eyed jack, Caranx latus. The school whirls either on the reef or in open water, and when it is frightened it slides towards the deep, revealing itself only by the occasional reflection of a fish turning towards the surface. In rarely fished areas, schools can reach several hundred individuals.

It also can frequently be observed in pairs, one silvery and the other black, the male. Such coloration is also common for other trevallies, such as the GT, the black jack, and even the gold-spotted trevally. This can create confusion, especially since these species often mix with each other.

Bigeye trevallies are present all year round and are found at any time, and like other pelagics rather in combination with strong current. They swim quickly near the structure to surprise their preys.

In its lighter color, in addition to the bigger eye, it can be distinguished from other trevallies by the black spot at the top of the operculum, the absence of mottling and the white tip of the dorsal and anal fins (The GT also has them, but cannot be confused with the bigeye trevally due to its shape).

The bigeye trevally is fished by stalking or bomb diving. Because of its fast movements it can be challenging to adjust the shot but the skin and the skeleton of the fish being resistant, it is rare to tear. This fish is quite vigorous but because of a weight not exceeding 7-8kg it does not cause any particular problems.

Unfortunately, bigeye trevallies are culinarily close to the GT, so I would not recommend them. On top of that, and this is also true for the GT, an injured bigeye trevally is a shark magnet. I never shoot them, except for burley.

The snub nose dart is a coral reef fish that is usually found in small schools. It is very similar to its Caribbean cousin, the permit, but is smaller in size and is distinguished by a green/golden layer on the back and black fin edges.

This is compared to other trevallies, a much less common species in Indonesia.

The snub nose dart is a perfect target but very mobile so difficult to aim at in the current swept areas. Unlike other trevallies, it might try to hide in caves if any. Also because the schooling fish are very close to each other, it is not exceptional to shoot two at a time.

Like the bluefin trevally, the snub nose dart is delicious cooked.

A good catch in Indonesia, despite its modest size.

The black jack is a circumtropical species, common in the South Atlantic. It can exceed ten kilos and is often in imposing schools, often in symbiosis with bigeye trevally, caranx sexfasciatus.

It can reach ten kilos and like other trevallies it is a vigorous fish and hard to kill. Its color patterns go from dark green hemmed in black, to entirely black. The big eye trevally can sometimes also be completely black but its shape is different, caranx lugubris being much more stocky.

In Indonesia, however, it is infrequent.

It is usually caught through bomb diving, and it’s a relatively easy catch.

Unfortunately, its flesh is not very tasty and I will not recommend it.

The brassy trevally is a reef predator. It resembles the bigeye trevally and especially the Tille trevally but is distinguished by its golden color, its sickle shaped pectoral fin darker at its base and the white edge on the anal fin and the lower lobe of the caudal fin. A white spot at the top of the operculum is also characteristic, even in low visibility conditions.

It is a rather rare catch in Indonesia, but can be locally abundant if the biotope is right.

It tastes similarly to Tille trevally, that is to say average.

Occasionally encountered, this trevally does rarely exceed 3kg. It is usually solitary.

Its general appearance is reminiscent of the two spotted queenfish, which is much more common. It is recognized by its slit mouth, similar to that of Aphareus furca and of course a black bar in the middle of the gill plate.

It is usually caught straightforwardly, and it’s an easy catch.

Although not a very tasty trevally, it is ok fried and therefore an OK back-up catch.

The giant trevally or “GT” is an iconic reef predator of the indo-pacific, the famous Ulua of the Hawaiians. It can be found anywhere, both on the reef or about fifty meters upstream, in midwater. Its color is variable, sometimes very light, sometimes very dark, but it is generally recognizable by its size and irregular silvery vertical bands in the back. Juveniles can sometimes be confused with bigeye trevallies.

The “GT” is present all year, rather in small groups or solitary. In the autumn, schools of several dozens individuals can be observed.

It can be encountered at all hours, and like other pelagics rather with running current, even strong. Often it hides in the blue water and attacks the baitfish on the reef by flash sweeps, with the help of the current.

Often the GT comes frankly at the diver and it is often possible to properly adjust the shot. The problem is that this fish is very powerful and usually the shaft does not come out unscathed from the fight. The flesh is very dense and the skin thick, one must be close to pass through the fish, especially with a slip tip. Moreover, the GT usually rushes towards the structure, destroying shafts and cables/ wires. All this for a red and unpleasant flesh. However, all is not bad in the GT, Sean recommends the shoulder of the fish for sashimi, claiming it actually tastes very good.

Its size, its power, its racy lines, its aggressive look make the GT one of the first trophies coveted by spearos in Indonesia. Personally I shoot them only to offer to those who ask for it or if there is nothing else. And pretty rarely. Once satisfied by a trophy (25kg +), leave this beautiful fish for scuba divers and snorkelers to admire, or capture it with a camera ….

The golden trevally is fond of sandy bottoms. It is recognizable by its round shape, its bright yellow fins, intense black stripes on the back and a vivid golden color out of the water. Also characteristic is its strongly lipped mouth and black spots of 1 to 3 cm in diameter on the flanks.

It can be found all year round, rather solitary or in small groups, especially for younger specimens.

Juveniles are bright yellow and often commensal with large fish such as whale sharks and groupers, like pilot fish.

In Indonesia this trevally is globally infrequent, but locally abundant.

The golden trevally is a very vigorous fish and because of its fast displacement is not very easy to aim at, but it responds pretty well to stalking. Otherwise, its round shape is an advantage for the shooter.

Just as the gold spotted trevally, the golden trevally is delicious. A treat on the barbecue. Depending on its habitat, it can also be an amazing raw fish, almost tasting like scallop. For me the best of all trevallies.

In the top list of catches in Indonesia, from 3-4kg.

The Tille trevally is in Indonesia an occasional host of reefs near sandy bottoms.

In Indonesia this trevally is infrequent, but I have observed large schools in southeastern Maluku.

These trevallies are close to the big-eye trevallies and especially the speckled trevallies. It is distinguished from the latter by its yellow tail, its smaller eye and its longer shape, and its rounder head. It has a slight speckling. Out of the water, it is silvery on the back and lighter in the belly, which can be yellow as well as the tip of the dorsal fin, clearly distinguishing it from the brassy trevally, which are darker and intensively gilded.

Tille’s trevally is a very vigorous fish and because of it is always on the move it can be difficult to aim at, but it responds well to agachon and resist well to tearing.

The Tille trevally is acceptable cooked.

The long raker or cale-cale trevally is a reef predator that likes sandy bottoms, like the golden trevally, with which it often coexists. It can be observed in schools of various sizes, several individuals very close to each other.

It is recognizable by its tall body, a very silvery color with purplish reflections like the dogtooth tuna, a periodic pattern on the flanks above the lateral line and a very split jaw giving it something of scowling little dog.

It is a rather rare catch in Indonesia, especially on usual coral reefs, one has to explore a little bit unusual biotopes to find it.

Unlike the African pompano it resembles, the longraker trevally tastes very good, as it eats mainly crabs and shrimps.

A very worthy catch.

Bluefin trevallies are reef predators. their intense color with bright blue dots is very recognizable.

The bluefin trevallies are present all year round, in small groups or in schools of several individuals of various sizes. Solitaries are rarer.

It can be encountered at all hours, and like other reef pelagics rather with running current, even strong. Often it swims quickly near the structure to surprise its prey.

The bluefin trevallies are therefore caught either stalking on the reef or in midwater, or through bomb diving on the fish, like for the GT. Because of its speed, it is not always easy to adjust the shot well but the skin and the skeleton of the fish being resistant, it is rare to tear. This fish is very vigorous but as its size does not exceed 10-12kg it does not present any particular problems.

Unlike their cousin, the GT, the bluefin trevallies are delicious, especially grilled. In the Moluccas, they even say “he eats blue trevally every day” for someone who is financially at ease.

Together with the spanish mackerel and the gold-spotted trevally, one of the best catches in Indonesia, from 3kg and above.

Quite common, this trevally does not exceed 3kg. In Indonesia it is usually solitary, but in Thailand I saw it in schools, mixed with other species like big eye trevally.

Although it is not a catch of the most sought after, it is one of the most beautiful trevallies especially when it displays its entirely gilded pattern. Its silvery pattern is very similar to that of the golden trevally, but the latter has a more elongated body and smaller and fewer gold spots. Between its two patterns, golden and silver, several intermediaries are possible.

It is usually captured through a direct approach, and it’s an easy catch.

Unfortunately, its flesh is not very tasty and I will not recommend it.

Quite common, this trevally commonly weighs 2 -5 kg, and can sometimes exceed 6kg. It can be encountered alone or more generally in schools, on rocky reefs, coral reefs and sandy bottoms. We have observed some very large schools in the deep.

It is very similar to its cousin, the coachwhip trevally which is also round shaped with golden spots on the side. The thick-lipped trevally has dorsal and anal fins short and blue. The coachwhip trevally has a white border around the fins and a white filament in the extension of the dorsal. The thick-lipped trevally may also have a white  but less long and less flexible dorsal filament.

The orange spotted trevally is also quite similar but adorned with brighter colors, and is generally smaller in size. The pompano has a similar shape but different colours and lacks the golden spots.

The thick-lipped trevally is usually caught quite straightforwardly, and it’s a rather easy catch, but comparatively to its size it is remarkably strong fighter. When shot, it emits throat noises attracting sharks, like most trevallies.

Unfortunately, its meat is not very tasty and I will not recommend it.

The gold-spotted trevally is a reef predator, usually observed in front of drop offs, patrolling the reef or near sandy bottoms. It is easily recognizable by its yellow fins, large dark bands on the back that fade to the death of the fish and bright golden points. From above, the anterior part of the back is fluorescent yellow. Larger specimens often display a few black circular dots on the last third of the body. Spawning males are often speckled with black.

It can be mistaken for Carangoides bajad, which does usually not exceed 2-3 kg and is stockier. Another similar species with a rounder head is the bludger (Carangoides gymnostethus), commonly caught in Australia.

It can be found all year but more frequently during the austral winter, from June to October. It is seen in small groups of 3-4 fish, more rarely alone, in this case it is often a large specimen. In pristine areas, the schools can comprise dozens of individuals. In the coral reefs it is less frequent than the blue trevally but in mixed coral/sand zones the probability of encounter is reversed.

The gold spotted trevally likes current and moves to the shallow zone more frequently at the end of the day, shortly before sunset, like the dog tooth tuna.

The golden trevally is very vigorous and because of its sudden direction changes is often shot without really aiming, slip-tip being an asset, but not a must. This fish does rarely tear off.

Like the bluefin trevallies, the golden trevallies are delicious cooked but also raw. A treat on the barbecue.

One of the best catches in Indonesia, from 3-4kg up to about ten kg.

The African Pompano is a circumtropical reef predator, often present near sandy bottoms. It is easily recognized by its angular body, laterally very compressed, and its large pectoral fins, and for the youngest long filaments in the extension of the dorsal and anal fins.

In Indonesia it is infrequent.

It is found preferentially in the current zones, and more frequently at the end of the day, or even shortly before sunset, like the dog tooth tuna.

This trevally is very vigorous and because of its speed and sudden direction changes it can be difficult to aim at, but the target is hard to miss and the flesh so firm so that a fish shot is usually a fish landed.

Grilled it tastes good, but preferably smaller indidividuals.