Fish

Pacific crevalle jack

Jurel toro del Pacífico (jurel, toro)

Caranx caninus

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

5–20 lb.

Depth

Surface to 100 ft.

Best time

Morning and evening.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Thick, deep-bodied jack with a steep blunt head, a black spot on the gill cover, a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin, and yellowish fins; looks almost the same as the Atlantic crevalle.
Typical size: 5–20 lb.
Maximum size: About 3½ ft and close to 40 lb.
Diet: Fish and squid.
Behavior: Hunts in schools, crashing bait at the surface along beaches, points and river mouths; fights hard and deep.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Baja & Sea of Cortez, Pacific Mexico, Pacific Central America, Pacific Colombia & Ecuador, Galápagos Islands and Peru. Beaches, bays, rocky points and estuaries from southern California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Habitat: Beaches, bays, rocky points and estuaries from southern California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Depth: Surface to 100 ft.
Fishing depth: Surface to 30 ft.
Best season: All year; summer and fall are best in the Sea of Cortez.
Best time: Morning and evening.
Best tides: Moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Any; look for birds over bait.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Poppers Jigs Hooks

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Beaches, bays, rocky points and estuaries from southern California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Rig up: 7–8 ft medium-heavy to heavy spinning rod. 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live sardines, mullet and mackerel. Lures: Poppers, stickbaits, spoons and jigs.
Fish it: Chase surface-feeding schools and cast poppers into the boils, or cast from the beach and points at dawn.
Time it: Morning and evening. Moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Chase surface-feeding schools and cast poppers into the boils, or cast from the beach and points at dawn.
BigJoe's tip: When a school is busting bait, a fast-worked popper is almost a sure hookup.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Dark, strong meat; bleed it and eat it fresh, smoked or in fish tacos.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Strong fish with sharp scutes near the tail — handle with care.
Regulations: Covered by general bag limits; follow local rules. Rules vary by country: Mexico requires a CONAPESCA sport fishing license for everyone aboard a fishing boat, Costa Rica requires an INCOPESCA license, and Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru set their own rules. Many islands and coasts (Coiba, Isla del Coco, Malpelo, Gorgona, the Galápagos and others) are marine parks with strict limits or no fishing.
Conservation: Mostly released by sport anglers.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits