Bar Jack

Bar Jack, Juvenile

Bar Jack, Juvenile
Name: Bar Jack
Scientific Name: Caranx ruber
Family: Jacks
Taxonomic: Carangidae
ID Group: Silvery Fishes
Size: 0.75 - 1.25 ft.
Depth Range: On the reef (10 – 60 ft.)
Sightings: Seen often

The Bar Jack has a dark bar running along its back, with a bright, iridescent blue stripe directly beneath it. Its streamlined body is typically a silvery color, transitioning from a bluish-gray on its upper half to a pure white on its underside. When it is actively feeding, the silvery-blue hue on its body can darken considerably.

This Jack is mostly found solitary or in small groups in clear, shallow waters. It is known for its opportunistic feeding behavior, sometimes following other fish to snatch food stirred up from the seafloor. Bar Jacks are also common around bait balls, where they hunt small fish in fast, coordinated bursts. Juveniles often seek shelter near pilings and dock areas, or with floating Sargassum seaweed.