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Giant trevally, also known as lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ronin jack, giant kingfish, or ulua, are large marine fish found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They are distributed across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from South Africa to Hawaii, including northern Australia. In Australia, giant trevally can be found in the waters of Western Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, New South Wales, and the Torres Strait Islands. They are a popular game fish and are sought-after by anglers due to their scarcity and fighting ability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location in Australia | Northern Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Bay, Rottnest Island, Broome, Rowley Shoals |
| Range | Stretching from South Africa to Hawaii, including Japan in the north and Australia in the south |
| Habitat | Tropical and subtropical waters, coral reefs, shallow bays, lagoons, estuaries, deeper reefs, offshore atolls, large embayments |
| Diet | Fish, crustaceans, spiders, insects, juvenile turtles, dolphins |
| Size | Maximum known size of 170 cm and a weight of 80 kg |
| Colour | Silvery with occasional dark spots, males may be black when mature |
| Features | Steep head profile, strong tail scutes |
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What You'll Learn
Giant trevally in the Great Barrier Reef
Giant trevally, also known as GT, lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ronin jack, giant kingfish, or ulua, is a species of large marine fish found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is distributed across a wide range of marine environments, from estuaries and shallow bays to deeper reefs and large embayments.
In Australia, giant trevally can be found in the northern tip of New Zealand, the southern coast of New South Wales, and the waters off Rottnest Island, near Perth. They are also known to inhabit the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, where they are a popular target for anglers and fishers.
The giant trevally is distinguished by its steep head profile, strong tail scutes, and silvery colour with occasional dark spots. It is the largest fish in the genus Caranx, growing to a maximum known size of 170 cm and a weight of 80 kg. As an apex predator, it preys on various fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and molluscs.
The giant trevally is a formidable game fish that puts up a challenging fight for anglers due to its power, aggression, and acrobatic abilities. It is also known to make deep grunting sounds when landed. Anglers seeking to catch giant trevally in the Great Barrier Reef can increase their chances by avoiding reef "walls" and targeting isolated bommies holding schools of fusiliers on the edge of the reef. Additionally, using surface lures can be an effective technique to attract these fish.
While the giant trevally is a sought-after game fish, it is also an important species for commercial fisheries. However, some concerns have been raised about their declining numbers in certain regions, such as the main Hawaiian Islands. Conservation efforts, such as strict catch-and-release practices, are crucial for ensuring the longevity of this magnificent species and preserving the delicate ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.
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Western Australia's inshore waters
Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis), also known as lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ronin jack, giant kingfish, or ulua, are large marine fish. They are distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, with a range stretching from South Africa to Hawaii, including Japan in the north and Australia in the south.
Western Australia has its fair share of giant trevally, inhabiting the inshore waters from Exmouth to Broome and offshore at Rowley Shoals. They are also found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Arafura Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and Coral Sea.
In Western Australia, giant trevally can be found in the inshore waters from Exmouth to Broome. This includes locations such as the Kimberley, where the tide swings can reach up to 28 feet, and the Rowley Shoals, located offshore.
Anglers often target giant trevally in this region, using a variety of lures and baits. The blooper, a bulbous, cup-faced popper, is a popular choice for attracting giant trevally. Anglers also target giant trevally by trolling rigged mullet or garfish baits around dropoffs, and slow trolling or mooching with large weighted swimming baits can also produce giant trevally.
Giant trevally are not a favoured eating fish, so most caught are released back into the water to grow bigger.
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Northern Australia's continental shelf
Giant trevally, also known as lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ronin jack, giant kingfish, or ulua, are found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They are distributed throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging along the coasts of three continents and many hundreds of smaller islands and archipelagos.
In Australia, giant trevally have been recorded in the northern parts of the country, including the Northern Territory and Western Australia. They are known to inhabit the inshore waters from Exmouth to Broome and can be found offshore at Rowley Shoals and in the Arafura Sea. They are also present in the marine environments of Queensland, with records of their presence in the Moreton Bay Marine Park and adjacent continental shelf waters.
The giant trevally is a highly sought-after gamefish due to its scarcity and legendary fighting ability. They can be identified by their steep head profile, strong tail scutes, and silvery colour with occasional dark spots. Males may turn black as they mature.
In terms of diet, giant trevally in Australia have a mostly fish-based diet, including eels, but they also consume crustaceans such as prawns and amphipods. They are known to exploit a range of habitats, from shallow-water reef environments to more open waters, and can be found in estuaries, shallow bays, and lagoons as juveniles, maturing into deeper reefs, offshore atolls, and large embayments as adults.
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New South Wales' Solitary Island Marine Park
Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) are distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, with a range stretching from South Africa to Hawaii, including Japan in the north and Australia in the south. In Australia, giant trevallies have been found in the western coast of Rottnest Island, not far offshore from Perth, and in the northern waters of New South Wales.
New South Wales Solitary Island Marine Park (SIMP) is a marine park in New South Wales State waters, Australia. It is the third-largest marine protected area in New South Wales, covering a total area of 71,000 hectares and extending along 75 kilometres of coast, from Coffs Harbour to the Sandon River mouth. The park includes coastal estuaries, lakes, and tidal waters of estuaries, beaches, and headlands within its boundaries. It is home to a diverse range of habitats, including intertidal and subtidal reefs, soft sediments, beaches, seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarsh, and open waters, which support a large variety of fauna and flora.
The Solitary Islands are an important breeding area for marine birds such as Osprey (Pandion cristatus). Threatened species such as the Australian Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), Sooty Oystercatcher (H. fuliginosus), and Beach Stone-curlew (Esacus magnirostris) are local shorebirds that breed in the Marine Park. The Park also periodically hosts three endangered marine birds: Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera), Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), and Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus).
The coastal areas adjoining the Marine Park are high in species richness and endemism. The warm East Australian Current strongly influences the waters around the Solitary Islands. The continental shelf of northern NSW lies at the juncture of tropical and temperate oceanographic regions, and the sea temperature patterns within the Solitary Islands region explain the cross-shelf gradients in biotic patterns. Both tropical and temperate faunas overlap here, and for many species, the Marine Park may represent either their northern or southern limits.
The Solitary Island Marine Park is home to a huge diversity of marine life, with tropical, temperate, and subtropical species of fish, coral, and algae being the main attraction for divers. The area around Pimpernel Rock, at the northern end of the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve, is favoured by the endangered Grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus), which has a preference for gutters in reefs and submarine caves.
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Queensland's Moreton Bay Marine Park
The Giant Trevally, also known as GT, is a common catch for anglers in Moreton Bay. GTs are distinguished by their steep head profile, strong tail scutes, and occasional dark spots on their bodies, with males sometimes turning black once mature. They are the largest fish in the genus Caranx, growing up to a maximum known size of 170 cm and weighing up to 80 kg.
GTs are known for their speed, with a top speed of over 65 kilometres per hour. They can hunt alone or in large schools, preying on fish and crustaceans such as prawns and amphipods. In Australia, their diet also includes more novel prey, such as spiders and insects.
The Giant Trevally is distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from South Africa to Hawaii and from Japan in the north to Australia in the south. They inhabit a wide range of marine environments, from shallow bays and lagoons as juveniles to deeper reefs and offshore atolls as adults.
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Frequently asked questions
Giant trevally are found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including northern Australia. They are distributed throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In Australia, they can be found in the waters of Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales.
The giant trevally's scientific name is Caranx ignobilis.
The giant trevally is also known as the lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ronin jack, giant kingfish, or ulua.
The giant trevally is the largest fish in the genus Caranx, growing up to a maximum known size of 170 cm (67 inches) and weighing up to 80 kg (176 lb).
The giant trevally typically has a robust silver body with a rounded head profile. Its body colour is usually silver, fading to white on the underside, with occasional dark spots. The fins are darker, usually black, and it has a very thin tail section with sharp scutes.
