CARANGIDAE: TREVALLIES, JACKS and KINGFISHES

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The Carangidae is a large family, containing 150 named species, including species of Trevally, Amberjack, Jack Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Pompano, Scad, Queenfish, Moonfish, and Threadfish (Froese and Pauly, 2009). Carangids are mainly marine, rarely in brackish water, and are distributed throughout the world’s oceans (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific), but concentrated in tropical regions (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994; Froese and Pauly, 2009). Species in the family are usually actively swimming, streamlined fish. They have fine scales; a relatively short-based, spinous first dorsal fin; a long-based, soft, second dorsal fin; widely forked caudal fin; long-based anal fin, and a detached pair of short spines (one, in some species) preceding the anal fin (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). In many species, scales along the lateral line are modified into spiny scutes (Nelson, 1984, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009). Adult carangids are often found schooling in coastal areas, particularly above reefs, but also in the open sea. Juveniles are often recorded far from shore, associated with floating debris or planktonic invertebrates such as jellyfish (Nelson, 1984; Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). Most carangids are predatory species that feed in the water column on fishes, although some root in sand for invertebrates and fishes.

The Carangidae is an important family for commercial and recreational fishing, particularly in tropical areas (Nelson, 1984, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009).

Of the 30 genera (Froese and Pauly, 2009), about 22 are found in Australian waters (CSIRO, 2009), but only 4 genera are regularly recorded in southern Australia (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). About 70 species are found in Australian waters (CAAB, 2009).

Common species in southern Australia include the following:
Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola lalandi: a large, school-forming species that is often found around coastal reefs and offshore islands, and occasionally in estuaries. Kingfish are distributed globally in cool temperate and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, off South Africa, Japan, southern Australia and USA (Sea-Ex Australia, 2004). In Australia, Kingfish range from Queensland, around the south coast, to W.A.. In Australia, Seriola lalandi is fished commercially and recreationally, and is also produced in aquaculture, particularly for export. In South Australia, a significant commercial fishery existed for Kingfish until closures prohibited netting in the northern sector of Spencer Gulf in 1990 (SARFAC, 2004). In New South Wales, commercial catches are increasing. The Sydney Fish Market recorded an increase in wild-caught Yellowtail Kingfish from 91.5t in 1999 to 217t in 2002. Kingfish is now the primary marine finfish species grown in South Australia, where production of Yellowtail Kingfish in aquaculture increased from 45t in 1999/00 to more than 3000t in 2003/04 (SARFAC, 2004). Production continued to increase during the mid 2000s, and 700,000 Yellowtail Kingfish fingerlings were produced in 2007 for grow-out. A production target in 2008 was 1.2 million kingfish fingerlings produced at two South Australian hatcheries (CSTL Annual Report, 2007);
Samsonfish Seriola hippos: a large, fast-swimming reef fish found in continental shelf waters across south-eastern and southern Australia (especially abundant in W.A.), and New Zealand. The Samsonfish is a popular target for sports fishers, due to its “fighting” ability;
Sand Trevally (Skipjack Trevally) Pseudocaranx wrighti: A smaller species from shallow waters (less than about 30m deep). The Sand Trevally is found in Tasmania, Victoria, S.A. and W.A. (Smith-Vaniz and Jelks, 2006). The young occur in large schools. The species is less commonly used commercially than the larger, related species P. georgianus (see below). Sand Trevally is one of the two major bycatch species in the Spencer Gulf Prawn Trawl fishery, in terms of numbers caught (Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004b). For example, 9,008 specimens were recorded in 32 trawl tows, in a bycatch sampling program during the mid-1990s (Carrick, 1997). The species is also part of the bycatch in some Commonwealth-managed fisheries in southern Australia (AFMA, 2002a);
Silver Trevally / White Trevally Pseudocaranx georgianus (formerly P. dentex): A widely distributed schooling species, found in continental shelf waters of eastern, southern and south-western Australia, and New Zealand. Silver Trevally is an important commercial fish in southern Australia and New Zealand, and is also taken by sports fishers. The species is discussed in a synopsis below, due to concern about fishing-induced population declines;
Jack Mackerel Trachurus declivis: A schooling species with a broad depth range on the continental shelf and slope. The species is found across eastern and southern Australia (between Queensland and W.A.), and also in New Zealand. Jack Mackerel is an important commercial species in the southern hemisphere. It is also taken as a game fish, and used for bait. Kailola et al. (1993) provided an overview of the fishery in southern Australia, where Jack Mackerel has been caught in large quantities since the 1970s, for use as fishmeal for livestock and in aquaculture, pet food, bait, and oil. In Australia, the species is taken using purse seine and also mid-water trawl. In the Tasmanian sector of the fishery, the record catches of more than 40,000t during the mid-1980s have not been repeated. AFMA (2004c) reported that, although environmental factors may be partially responsible for the lower catches in recent years, fishing may also have contributed to reduced populations of Jack Mackerel. In the Commonwealth-managed Small Pelagic Fishery, in which Jack Mackerel is a major species, the estimated catch for 2002-2003 was 5,703t (AFMA, 2004). The status of the Jack Mackerel resource in southern Australia is considered to be “uncertain”, following historic decline in catches since the 1980s (AFMA, 2004b). In the Bass Strait component of the South Shark Fishery, Jack Mackerel is one of 4 main fishes caught and discarded (68% live; 32% dead, according to one study) (Walker et al., 2003). Smaller quantities are also recorded in the bycatch of the SETF (e.g. 41t in 2000/01, according to fishers’ logbooks) (AFMA, 2002a). In waters off New Zealand, the species is caught commercially with trawls, purse seines, traps and on line gear. The total catch reported to FAO for 1999 was 15,529t. Countries with the largest catches from southern hemisphere waters include Ukraine and Russian Federation (FAO, 2004b);
Yellowtail Scad / Yellowtail Horse Mackerel Trachurus novaezelandiae: Like Jack Mackerel, the species forms large schools, and has a broad depth range over the continental shelf and slope. Yellowtail Scad is found across eastern and southern Australia (between Queensland and W.A.), and also around New Zealand and Lord Howe Island. Yellowtail Scad is a component of the Small Pelagic Fishery in southern Australia.

Associated taxa