Quick Answers
Crevalle jacks, also known as common jacks or cavallas, are a popular sport fish found in warm coastal waters around the world. They put up a good fight when caught, making them a prized target for anglers. But many ask – are crevalle jacks good to eat?
The quick answers are:
- Yes, crevalle jacks are good eating if prepared properly.
- Smaller, younger crevalle jacks tend to be the best for eating.
- The meat is lean, mild, firm and white when cooked.
- To avoid any strong fishy taste, the dark red meat should be removed.
- Baking, grilling, smoking or using in fish tacos are good cooking methods.
- Larger, older fish are not as ideal for eating due to their higher mercury content.
So in summary, crevalle jacks can make for tasty, healthy meals as long as you target the right size and age of fish, and prepare them properly to avoid any strong flavors. The mild taste and firm texture allows them to be versatile in recipes.
What are Crevalle Jacks?
Crevalle jacks are a species of large marine fish belonging to the jack family Carangidae. They are also known as common jacks, cavallas, or trevallies.
Some key facts about crevalle jacks:
– Found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide
– Abundant in coastal habitats like bays, estuaries, reefs
– Silver-grey to bluish-green backs with yellowish sides
– Distinguished by their steep foreheads
– Can grow up to 5 feet long and over 50 lbs
– Lifespan of up to 15 years
– Feed on small fish and crustaceans
– Highly sought after gamefish due to their hard fighting
– Tolerant of low oxygen and wide salinity levels
Crevalle jacks can be found cruising near the surface or throughout the water column in both inshore and offshore waters. They are extremely fast swimmers and will often leap out of the water when hooked.
Range and Habitat
The crevalle jack is widespread in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. In the Western Atlantic, they are found from Nova Scotia, Canada down to Uruguay. Their range extends throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
They are abundant along the Atlantic coast of the United States as far north as Cape Cod. In the Eastern Atlantic, they can be found from Portugal to South Africa. Their Indo-Pacific range spreads from South Africa to French Polynesia.
Crevalle jacks occupy a variety of coastal habitats with their preferred being shallow bays, estuaries, and coral reefs. Juveniles are typically found in protected sandy areas like mangrove shorelines. Adults frequent harbors, piers, rocky shorelines, surf zones, and offshore reefs.
Identification
Crevalle jacks have an elongated, compressed body built for speed and maneuverability. Their most distinguishing feature is a steep convex forehead profile that overhangs the mouth.
The back is metallic blue-green to silver-grey in color while the sides and belly are silvery with a yellowish tint. Fins are dusky with darker edges. Several dark vertical bands may be present on the lower sides.
Crevalle jacks have two separate dorsal fins. The first is made of eight spines while the second has one spine followed by 19 to 21 soft rays. The anal fin consists of two detached anterior spines followed by one spine and 16 to 18 soft rays.
At maturity, crevalle jacks can reach lengths of three to five feet and weigh from 15 to 50 pounds. The all-tackle world record is a 51 pound fish caught in Africa.
Are Crevalle Jacks Good to Eat?
So now that we know what crevalle jacks are, the main question remains – how do they taste and are they good to eat?
The answer is yes, crevalle jacks are considered good eating, especially when prepared properly. Here are some key points on their edibility:
– Flesh is lean, flaky, firm, and mild tasting. Whitish when cooked with minimal fishy or strong flavors.
– Smaller younger jacks around 2-3 lbs offer the best fillets for eating. Larger fish over 10 lbs are less ideal.
– Best ways to cook include baking, broiling, grilling, or smoking. Works well in fish tacos, sandwiches, ceviche.
– Remove the dark red lateral bloodline to prevent any strong taste. The bloodline runs along the length of the fillet.
– Marinate fillets in citrus juice, vinegar or wine to help tenderize and enhance flavor.
– Texture stands up well to most cooking methods without falling apart. Fries or bakes up nicely.
– High levels of protein, vitamins, and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Low mercury risk in younger fish.
So while not the most prized or prestigious table fare, crevalle fillets offer a wholesome, budget-friendly seafood option. Their texture and mildness allows them to take on the flavors of whatever spices or sauces they are cooked with. Smaller jacks caught from clean waters make for a tasty and healthy meal.
Best Size for Eating
In general, smaller crevalle jacks around 2-4 pounds will provide the best fillets for eating. These younger fish have had less time to accumulate mercury and other contaminants that large predator fish can ingest. Their flesh will be the firmest with a milder flavor.
Larger jacks over 10 pounds or longer than 40 inches tend to have a higher mercury risk and may result in a fishier tasting, fatty fillet. The flesh also softens as the fish gets older. However, the fillets from large trophy jacks can still be edible with proper preparation and by removing the fatty dark meat.
Many experienced anglers and fishing guides recommend only keeping younger jacks around 20-30 inches fork length and 4 pounds or under. This provides fine eating on par with other good gamefish like mahi mahi, snapper or grouper.
When in doubt, or if you hook a true monster jack, consider safely releasing the big fish. They will provide great action on the line and make for a memorable catch and release.
Best Methods for Preparation
Crevalle jack fillets will take on the flavor of whatever spices, marinades or cooking methods you use. Their firm yet flaky texture ensures they won’t fall apart easily. Here are some top preparation tips:
– Remove any dark red bloodline meat which may have a strong taste.
– Marinate for 1-2 hours in an acidic juice like lime, lemon, or vinegar which helps tenderize and impart flavor.
– Season simply with basic salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil or brush with melted butter.
– Bake, broil, grill, or pan-sear over high heat for a crispy outside and moist interior. Cook to an internal temp of 140°F.
– Adding crevalle to fish tacos, sandwiches, ceviche, or chowder works very well.
– Smoking smaller fillets results in a nice flaky texture and mild flavor.
– Avoid overcooking the fish which can make it dry. Check for doneness and remove from heat once opaque and flaky.
With lighter preparations like baking or grilling with minimal seasoning, the mild flavor and firm texture of the crevalle can really shine through. Frying or heavily spicing the fish may overpower its more delicate nature.
Comparison to Related Species
How does the palatability and taste of crevalle jack compare to other popular jack fish caught by anglers? Here is a quick overview:
Yellowjack: The closest relative to crevalle jacks, yellowjacks are found in the Indo-Pacific. Their eating qualities are almost identical – light, mild, and ideal for younger smaller fish under 5 lbs. Often interchangeable with crevalle in recipes.
Blue Runner: A smaller cousin of the crevalle jack, blue runners are excellent table fare. Their tender fillets lend well to frying, tacos, and chowders. Less widely distributed than crevalle jacks.
Horse-eye Jack: Growing larger than crevalle jacks, horse-eye jack fillets tend to be firmer with a moderate flavor. Best from younger fish and work well grilled or fried. Found in deeper offshore waters.
Amberjack: The largest jack species, amberjack have a moderate to full flavor profile and meatier texture. Fillet quality declines in older, larger fish. Best for smoking, grilling, or in chunks/sandwiches. Require strong seasoning.
Pompano: A highly-prized panfish unrelated to jacks, pompano offers sweet, flaky white fillets. It commands a higher price but is difficult to obtain. Closer in value to premium tablefish like snapper or mahi mahi.
So while crevalle jack may not gain the same reverence as true delicacies like pompano or red snapper, it holds its own against the best jack fish. Proper care in removing bloodlines and targeting smaller fish helps yield rewarding fillets.
Nutritional Value
In addition to its mild flavor and satisfying texture when cooked, crevalle jack also delivers excellent nutritional value. It is a healthy, high-protein seafood choice.
Some of the main nutritional benefits of crevalle jack include:
- – High protein levels around 20-25g per 3 ounce serving for strong, lean muscle growth.
- – Low calorie count of 90-130 calories per serving for a light, nutritious meal.
- – Rich in B vitamins like B12, niacin, and B6 to support energy metabolism and brain health.
- – Excellent source of selenium, a powerful antioxidant that boosts immunity.
- – Contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA for improved cardiovascular health.
- – Low mercury levels, especially in younger fish under 4 pounds.
- – Good amounts of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and magnesium.
- – High vitamin D content to promote healthy bones and teeth.
So crevalle jack delivers high protein, essential fatty acids, and a wide range of important vitamins and minerals. It makes for a satisfying meal that provides energy, muscle recovery, heart health, and other wellness benefits.
When comparing to other popular fish fillets, crevalle jack features higher protein than tilapia or catfish. It has higher heart-healthy fats than mahi mahi or snapper. For its mild taste and nutritional value, crevalle jack earns its place as a healthy seafood choice.
Where to Catch Crevalle Jacks
Now that we’ve covered why crevalle jacks make for fine eating, where are some top spots to catch your own?
Here are some of the best regions worldwide to hook into hard-fighting crevalle jacks:
Florida Keys – The waters surrounding the Florida Keys offer endless opportunities to catch crevalle jacks, especially on the ocean side. Target channel edges, reefs, and wrecks.
Mosquito Lagoon – This inland estuary along Florida’s Space Coast holds big crevalle jacks along with redfish and tarpon. Fish the shallow flats or deep channels.
Indian River Lagoon – Moving further north along Florida’s Atlantic coast, the Indian River Lagoon system also holds plenty of jacks.
Hawaii – Hawaiian island coastlines provide consistent crevalle jack fishing from the shore or by boat around reefs and sandy bays.
Bahamas – The island chain of the Bahamas is a jack fisherman’s paradise. Find them patrolling shallow flats and around deep cays.
Belize – Offshore reefs and atolls along with coastal mangrove estuaries in Belize offer hot crevalle jack action.
Panama – The Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama serve up excellent inshore and offshore jack fishing prospects.
Mexico – Mexican fishing locations like Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta are primed for catching hard-fighting jacks.
Australia – Crevalle and yellow jacks populate the coastal waters, reefs, and bays up and down Australia’s extensive coastline.
So anywhere warm coastal waters are found, chances are there are crevalle jacks around waiting to be hooked. Just be sure to release the big spawners and keep only what you’ll eat!
Fishing Tips and Techniques
Crevalle jacks may not be the most difficult species to target, but their hard fighting nature demands having the right tackle and techniques to land them. Here are some key fishing tips:
- – Use medium to medium-heavy tackle – rod in the 7-8 foot range with a medium sized 4000-5000 series reel.
- – Target 15-20 lb braided line or monofilament – jacks make strong runs so heavier line prevents break-offs.
- – Keep a supply of 1-2 oz jigs in various colors – jacks love having a fast moving bait to strike.
- – Try topwater plugs early morning – poppers, spooks, and swimbaits draw explosive strikes.
- – Live bait like finger mullet, shrimp, or small pinfish work well freelined or below a cork.
- – Chum with live or cut bait to draw jacks into casting range around structure.
- – Sharp single hooks prevent gut hooking fish that will be released – use a 4/0-6/0 size.
- – Set the hook immediately when you feel a take and fight hard to keep them from throwing the hook.
- – If jacks are finicky, downsize your tackle – they have sharp eyesight.
- – In clear shallows, approach carefully and make long casts to avoid spooking fish.
Having the right rod, reel, and line strength allows you to apply maximum pressure once hooked up. Crevalle jacks demand a quick hookset and constant pressure to bring them in close for a successful catch.
Fishing Regulations
When targeting crevalle jacks, it is important to be aware of any fishing regulations that may apply:
- – No federal size or bag limits on crevalle jacks in US Atlantic or Gulf state waters.
- – Florida and Georgia have a 100 lb aggregate catch limit per person or boat per day on jacks, including crevalle.
- – Many popular jack fishing locations have set size and bag restrictions, so always check local regulations.
- – Belize limits catches to 5 jacks per person per day within marine reserves.
- – Mexico fishing rules vary by region – often 5 jacks allowed per day with 12 inch minimum sizes.
- – Hawaii allows 20 jacks per person daily with minimum sizes varying by island.
- – Consult local fishing laws since crevalle jack regulations can change.
- – Obtain proper licensing – saltwater fishing license and permits required in most areas.
Responsible limits help ensure future jack populations stay healthy to provide fun action on the water year after year. Keeping only what you plan to eat is always a sound approach.
Conclusion
Crevalle jacks are a hard fighting and accessible gamefish for coastal anglers worldwide. Their range spans tropical to subtropical waters on both sides of North and South America, across the Caribbean, and throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
While not the most highly prized table fare, crevalle jack fillets offer fine eating when properly prepared. Smaller jacks around 2-4 pounds provide the best size for eating. The meat is lean, mild, and firm with a light flavor that takes on spices and cooking methods well.
Grilling, baking, or smoking younger crevalle fillets results in a satisfying fish perfect for sandwiches, tacos, chowders, and more. They deliver excellent nutrition including lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Targeting jacks demands medium tackle, heavy line, and sharp hooks to handle their speed and strength. Chumming, jigs, and live bait work well to entice strikes. Following local size and catch limits ensures future stocks remain healthy.
So next time you hook into a hard fighting crevalle jack, keep a smaller one for a tasty fresh fish meal that is both fun to catch and nutritious to eat. Just be sure to remove any darker red meat and cook thoroughly, and enjoy the rewards. Tight lines!
