How to catch White trevally
Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
About White trevally fishing
The white trevally is a powerful member of the jack and horse mackerel family Carangidae, featuring a deep fusiform body, bluish-silver upper flanks, and a distinct dark spot near the gill cover. Growing to a maximum length of 122 cm and a top weight exceeding 18 kg, this species typically inhabits coastal waters, rocky reefs, and estuaries down to depths of over 200 metres. Adults form active schools near the seabed or around rough bottom structures, feeding primarily on benthic invertebrates and small fish. They are valued as both a commercial catch and a hard-fighting sport fish prized by anglers across warm temperate regions.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
40 cm TL
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Market value
Very high
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Araara, Blue trevally, Blurter, Bruised-face trevally, Cavalley, Crevalley
Operculum
Clear opercular flap protects the gills and defines bony fish morphology.
Opercular Spot
A prominent dark spot at the upper edge of the operculum.
Yellow Stripe
Faint yellowish midlateral stripe runs along the flank to the tail.
White trevally fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
40 cm TL (max 122 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
2 kg (max 18.1 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
15.3–25.9 °C -
Depth
10–238 m -
Longevity
49 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
74.3
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 White trevally
How to catch White trevally
Tips for catching White trevally
Anglers targeting white trevally should focus on coastal rocky points, reef edges, and estuary mouths where strong tidal currents concentrate bait. Because these fish are cautious yet aggressive fighters, light to medium spinning gear paired with small metal jigs or soft plastics works exceptionally well. When fishing from the shore or surf beaches, bottom rigs baited with fresh prawn, squid strips, or lugworm generate reliable hookups. Early morning and late afternoon incoming tides offer the most productive windows for encountering active schools in shallow waters.
Other names for White trevally
Local and alternate names anglers use for White trevally.
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Trevally
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Toothed crevally
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Skipjack trevally
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Thicklipped jack
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White trevally
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Silver trevally
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Guelly Jack
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Crevalley
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Cavalley
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Bruised-face trevally
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Blurter
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White kingfish
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Jack
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Blue trevally
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Jackfish
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Longsnout trevally
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Skippy
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Pig ulua
Best equipment to catch White trevally
Compare fishing methods for White trevally — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 2 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.
85% 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
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
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
Surfcasting
Long-range bait or lure casting from an open beach or surf.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Surfcasting rod
A surfcasting rod is the long beach fishing rod for punching bait past the breakers. Length and a moderate-fast action load for distance.
Sized for a typical fish
medium-heavy · 3.6 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-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
Shock leader
A shock leader is a thick mono or tapered section that takes the cast. Carp shock is heavy (around 0.65 to 0.75 mm), not thin fluorocarbon.
Sized for a typical fish
22.5 kg · 0.65 mm · 900 cm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Fly Fishing
Presenting artificial flies with a fly rod and weighted line.
60% Effectiveness
Rod
Fly rod
A fly rod is a fishing rod sized by line weight, with a fly reel seat. The fly line, not a heavy lure, loads the blank.
Sized for a typical fish
2.74 m · 6wt
- Reel seat
- Fly
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Fly reel
A fly reel is a large-arbor drum that stores backing and fly line. Drag is a disc; the reel does not cast the fly.
Sized for a typical fish
5 kg drag · 6wt
- Spool
- Drum
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Disc
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Fly line
Fly line is the weighted shooting line that carries a near-weightless fly. Match it by weight class to the fly rod, not by kilo rating.
Sized for a typical fish
6wt
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Tippet
Tippet is the fine, replaceable end of a fly leader, sized in X so you can match the fly and the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
3.6 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm · 3X
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Medium
- Sink rate
- Slow
Best lures and baits for White trevally
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
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Metal jig
- Spinning
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
04
Prawn
- Bottom Fishing
Powerful fan-shaped tail propels the prawn backward when escaping predatory fish.
05
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
06
Lugworm
- Surfcasting
Fleshy, segmented body provides substantial scent and natural appeal for bottom fish.
07
Mackerel
- Surfcasting
Distinctive wavy dorsal stripes provide high contrast and flash underwater.
How White trevally migrates — Inshore–offshore
Shifts between shallow inshore water and deeper offshore grounds with the season.
1 Warm months
Inshore
Stay close inshore through the warm months.
2 Cold months
Offshore
Move offshore into deeper water as it cools.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of White trevally
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Dusk -
Feeds over
Hard bottom · Coral reefs -
Main prey
Baitfish
Prey and predators of White trevally
Prey is what White trevally eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Baitfish
Predators
What hunts it
Fish
Where White trevally lives
Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.
10–238 m · usually 10–25 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
White trevally photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for White trevally
Mapped fishing spots where White trevally is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
