Yellow Jack

2. Yellow Jack Growing

This is the same Yellow Jack as the juvenile in the previous photo.

The Yellow Jack has an elongated, silvery-yellow, sleek body, and its fins and tail are bright yellow. The body is often marked with a series of faint, dark blotchy patterns, and a dark stripe runs horizontally through its eye, which is more prominent on juveniles. A similar dark stripe may appear along its back, though it is often more subtle. It can rapidly change its color from silvery with subtle blotchy patterns to a more intense yellow with clearer markings.

This Jack can be found alone or in small groups and is a highly adaptable and opportunistic predator. It often uses a hunting strategy where it follows other fish to snatch food stirred up from the seafloor. Juveniles are often seen near the surface under floating objects like buoys or anchor ropes, using them for protection.