Bluefin Trevally / Tarakitu
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Bluefin Trevally / Tarakitu
Caranx melampygus
Photo from CD ROM
The bluefin trevally is Guam's most common reef dwelling jack. Jacks are fast-swimming silvery fishes that roam the open waters above the reef or the upper levels of the open sea. Jacks have a lateral series of bony scutes that form a reinforcing keel at the base of the tail. Some jacks look like tunas, but tunas lack scutes. There are many kinds of jacks in Guam's waters. They include the trevallies, pompanos, amberjacks, round scads, rainbow runner, and bigeye scad (atulai). Trevallies are large, laterally compressed jacks that feed on fishes or crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters.
Jacks of all sizes and species are popular food fishes. Young trevallies about three inches in length, called i'e', migrate from the open sea to shallow shoreline waters during the summer months. They feed on small invertebrates and fishes and are easily caught with light tackle using a piece of rubber band as a lure. Immature trevallies of four to 10 inches (10 to 25 cm) in length are called "tarakitiyu" and those larger than 10 inches are called "tarakitu." The bluefin trevally reaches a length of about 30 inches (76 cm). Another kind, the giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis), gets much larger, sometimes up to four and a half feet (1.4 m) long and 150 pounds (68 kg). When over three feet (0.9 m), it is called "mamulan." Other kinds of jacks at Guam include the"tarakiton amariyu" or golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus), which is found in deep lagoons and outer reefs; the "tarakiton åttelong" or black jack (Caranx lugubris), found off steep dropoffs and offshore banks, and the "tarakiton tailas" or bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), frequently caught when night-light fishing for atulai.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
