How to catch Horse-eye jack
Caranx latus Agassiz, 1831
About Horse-eye jack fishing
The horse-eye jack is a powerful pelagic predator belonging to the jack family Carangidae. It features a robust fusiform body with large eyes covered by adipose eyelids, dark vertical bars in juveniles, and a distinct coloration shifting from dark blue above to silvery white or golden below. Growing up to a maximum length of 101 cm, this reef-associated schooling fish inhabits coastal marine waters, rocky structures, and offshore reefs down to 140 metres while occasionally entering brackish estuaries. Adults feed primarily on smaller fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates, often moving in active shoals. Highly regarded by recreational anglers for its formidable fighting endurance, it serves as an exciting target for sport-fishing enthusiasts across its subtropical range.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
60 cm TL
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Market value
High
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Habitat
Freshwater, Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
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Also known as
Black jack, Cabali, False jack, Gallego, Horse eye, Horse eye jack
Yellow caudal fin
Distinctive yellow caudal fin distinguishes this species from related jacks.
Dusky scutes
Dark lateral line scutes stand out clearly along the posterior body.
Horse-eye jack fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
60 cm TL (max 101 cm FL ) -
Typical weight
2.5 kg (max 13.4 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
23.4–28 °C -
Depth
0–140 m -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
58.1
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Active
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Active
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Horse-eye jack
How to catch Horse-eye jack
Tips for catching Horse-eye jack
To successfully target this energetic fighter, focus your efforts around rocky shorelines, deep drop-offs, wrecks, and coastal reefs where schools patrol for passing prey. Use rapid, erratic retrieves with metal jigs, heavy spoons, or surface poppers to trigger aggressive strike responses from hunting fish. Early morning and late afternoon hours provide the best action as schools move into shallower zones to feed actively. When lure presentations fail, presenting live baitfish or fresh squid close to the bottom on a running-ledger rig yields consistent results. Ensure your tackle is robust and drag settings are well-tuned, as these powerful swimmers make blistering initial runs upon hookup.
Other names for Horse-eye jack
Local and alternate names anglers use for Horse-eye jack.
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Horse eye jack
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Horse eye
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False jack
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Gallego
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Cabali
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Black jack
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Horse-eye jack
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Horse-eye crevalle
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Horse-eye trevally
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Jack
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Horse-eye
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Yellowjack
Best equipment to catch Horse-eye jack
Compare fishing methods for Horse-eye jack — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 2.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
90% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 2.13 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Popping
Working surface poppers or stickbaits for inshore and tropical predators.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Offshore rod
An offshore rod is the one-piece boat fishing rod for deep jigging, trolling, and live bait in open salt water.
Sized for a typical fish
heavy · 1.68 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Live Baiting
Fishing a live baitfish or live invertebrate as the primary presentation.
80% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 2.13 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
7.5 kg · 0.3 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
9 kg · 0.35 mm · 100 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
2
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 2.13 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
7.5 kg · 0.3 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
9 kg · 0.35 mm · 100 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
2
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Trolling
Drawing lures or baits behind a moving boat.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Trolling rod
A trolling rod is built to sit in a holder and pull a lure or bait at speed. Moderate action so the rod, not the reel, plays the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 1.83 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Trolling reel
A trolling reel is the dedicated lever-drag fishing reel for pulling lures behind a boat, often in a holder all day.
Sized for a typical fish
20 · 15 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Lever
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Horse-eye jack
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Metal jig
- Spinning
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
03
Casting jig
- Spinning
A casting jig you hop, drag, and swim on the bottom.
06
Live baitfish
- Live Baiting
Elongated segmented worm body provides natural movement to attract fish.
07
Sardine
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
08
Shrimp
- Bottom Fishing
Translucent segmented carapace protects the body.
09
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
Diet and behavior of Horse-eye jack
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Dusk -
Main prey
Plankton · Baitfish
Prey and predators of Horse-eye jack
Prey is what Horse-eye jack eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Predators
What hunts it
Where Horse-eye jack lives
Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.
0–140 m · usually 0–20 m
River mouth
Where this species lives
Horse-eye jack photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Horse-eye jack
Mapped fishing spots where Horse-eye jack is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
