Yellowspotted Trevally

The yellowspotted trevally, also referred to as the yellowspotted kingfish, goldspotted trevally, tarrum, or yellowspot, is a prominent species within the jack family Carangidae. This widespread species inhabits the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific region, extending from 🇿🇦 South Africa in the west to 🇯🇵 Japan and 🇦🇺 Australia in the east. Known to reach a length of at least 1.2 meters, the yellowspotted trevally is characterized by its gill raker and fin morphology, as well as the distinctive golden spots that inspired its name. Typically, this species favors inshore rocky and coral reefs, though it is occasionally found around deep offshore sand banks at depths of up to 100 meters. A predatory species, its diet includes fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Studies in 🇦🇺 Australian waters indicate that its diet does not overlap extensively with other trevally species present there. While reproductive habits remain insufficiently documented, indirect evidence suggests spawning occurs in aggregations, likely during the summer months in 🇿🇦 South Africa. Although the yellowspotted trevally holds minor significance to commercial fisheries, it is highly esteemed among anglers and spearfishermen as an excellent sport fish and a palatable table fish.

Classified within the genus Carangoides, known for its jack and trevally species, the yellowspotted trevally belongs to the family Carangidae and the order Carangiformes. In 🇦🇺 Australia, the name 'tarrum' is still commonly used for this fish but is often inaccurately applied to similar species.

The yellowspotted trevally can grow to a length of 1.2 meters and reach a maximum weight of 18 kilograms. Its body shape is akin to the jacks of the genus Caranx, being more elongated and subcylindrical than most other Carangoides species. As the fish matures, it transitions from a more subovate shape to a more elongated form, with the dorsal profile of the head and nape becoming steeper.

Juvenile yellowspotted trevallies display a uniform silver color with a few golden spots above the lateral line, which becomes a more iridescent blue-green as the fish ages. In adulthood, the species exhibits many small golden to brassy spots above the midline, and larger individuals often present three irregular, indistinct dark blotches on the flank. A subtle dusky spot is generally visible on the operculum. The dorsal and anal fins display a dusky yellow hue, with the anal fin featuring a whitish-blue leading edge and distal margin. The pectoral and caudal fins are olive-yellow with dusky edges, and the pelvic fin is whitish-blue.

Geographically, the yellowspotted trevally spans the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, occurring from 🇿🇦 South Africa to the 🌊 Red Sea and 🇮🇳 India, throughout Southeast Asia and the 🇮🇩 Indonesian archipelago, south to northern 🇦🇺 Australia, north to 🇹🇼 Taiwan and 🇯🇵 Japan, and reaching as far east as Palau, 🇹🇴 Tonga, and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France). Predominantly, the species inhabits inshore lagoons and rocky or coral reef systems, though it is sometimes found in seagrass meadows, around offshore islands, and on deep sand banks at depths of around 100 meters. Due to its intolerance for low salinities, it does not enter estuarine environments.

The species is known to live both solitarily and in large schools, with smaller groups often observed patrolling reef edges in search of food. Larger solitary fish have been recorded searching seagrass beds for prey. Its diet comprises small fish such as anchovies, various crustaceans including swimming crabs, mantis shrimp, and prawns, and cephalopods like squid. Preliminary dietary studies on 🇦🇺 Australia's North West Shelf have indicated that C. fulvoguttatus and C. gymnostethus coexist in similar habitats by partitioning their diets, with C. fulvoguttatus consuming more fish and cephalopods, while C. gymnostethus predominantly targets crustaceans. Limited reproductive data are available, though observations from Palau indicate spawning aggregations in the third quarter of the lunar month, while spawning in 🇿🇦 South Africa is thought to occur during the summer.

Though the yellowspotted trevally holds moderate significance for fisheries across its range, specific catch data is frequently undocumented—an exception being 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, where the FAO reported an annual catch between 128 and 324 tonnes from 2000 to 2004 without discernible trends. The species is captured using hooks and lines, gill nets, and various traps. It is highly regarded by recreational anglers and spearfishers in certain countries, especially 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇿🇦 South Africa. In Western Australia's Pilbara region, recreational fishing surveys show annual catches around 5 tonnes, with approximately 3 tonnes retained for consumption or bait use. Anglers typically catch these fish using small baits such as fish and crab, along with lures, minnows, metal slugs, soft plastic lures, and saltwater flies. Renowned as an excellent gamefish, young yellowspotted trevallies are also appreciated as good table fish, although they tend to dry with age. This species is considered a promising candidate for future aquaculture endeavors.