Bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 0–190 m. The main season in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia runs all year.
Scientific name: Caranx melampygus · Water: Saltwater, Brackish · Season: All year
Size: up to 117 cm
The bluefin trevally is a carangid and the most common trevally on coral reefs. Adults range through coastal and oceanic waters closely tied to reefs, usually alone and occasionally in small schools, while juveniles move seasonally into shallow sandy inshore waters and rivers. It feeds mainly on other fishes and also takes crustaceans. Its range runs from the Red Sea and East Africa to Ducie Island, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia, with a separate eastern central Pacific population from Mexico to Panama, and a hybrid with Caranx sexfasciatus occurs in Hawaii. It ranges from the surface down to about 190 m, reaching about 117 cm fork length, commonly 60 cm, and up to about 43.5 kg, maturing near 35 cm. In season all year, it supports commercial fisheries and aquaculture, is a game fish and a public-aquarium species, and sells in the highest price band. Fishing vulnerability is high at 59 of 100 and climate vulnerability high to very high at 75, with medium resilience. It is mainly marketed fresh, and also dried or salted.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
Back to home · Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia · Species library