Crevalle Jack

Caranx hippos

Also called the common Jack, Jack Crevalle, Cavally, Cavalla, Horse Crevalle and Toro. This species is thought to occur almost around the world in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific and Western Atlantic specimens are essentially the same. The Crevalle develops a high blunt head, with small eyes near the anterodorsal profile. It is bluish-black or metallic-green above, silvery and sometimes yellowish below. The dorsal fin is dark and the anal fin maybe yellowish.

In the Western Atlantic the crevalle has been taken from off Uruguay to Musquodoboit Harbor, Nova Scotia. They are very rare in the West Indies and seldom seen in Bermuda. In the eastern Pacific they range from Cape Aguja, Peru into the gulf of California and up to the outer coast of Baja California. Crevalle have been caught in the 40 to 45 lb class size and are not uncommon in Florida. Spawning in the eastern side of the US is from March thru September, and most likely happens in the off shore waters. This species has a very high and very low salinity tolerance. They are frequently taken in brackish waters and maybe found at times some distance upstream in coastal rivers. They are most common in shallow flats and most very large ones are caught in deeper waters offshore. They are a schooling species but the larger ones are a solitary type fish. There food choice are smaller fish but the will also eat shrimp and other invertebrates. When taken from the water they make a croaking sound.

Crevalle are a fierce, stubborn and dynamic game fish for trolling, casting, or still fishing with live or cut baits. They are a first class light tackle fish which can be caught on fly, plug or spin gear. Smaller jacks in the 6 to 7 lb size travel in schools and as they become older and bigger they are found in pods, or you might see a very large one running at top speed. They seldom linger in one spot for long. In open waters the herd the bait fish into a compact mass, then plow threw them from all sides.

What ever lure you use in fishing for jacks you should retrieve them faster than normal. Crevalle will slam a plug the instant it hits the water or take it within the first few feet it hits the water. A lure that doodles along is invariably refused. The faster you pull the lure threw the water the more strikes you will have. When fly fishing for them try and put the fly in front of them and make hard quick pulls and hang on. Like Permit ,large jacks always seem to have a lot of energy in reserve. It is not uncommon to have to play a 20 lb. for more than a hour or more. Jack Crevalle in the 35 to 40 lb size are caught every year in the Florida Keys. The Florida record to date is around 51 lbs.