Whitefin Trevally

The whitefin trevally, Carangoides equula (also known as the horse trevally) is a species of deep water offshore fish in the jack family Carangidae. The species inhabits the tropical to temperate waters of the Indo-pacific and Central Pacific, ranging from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east. The whitefin trevally is a moderate sized fish, growing to 37 cm, and is distinguished by a number of morphological traits including fin size, gill raker count and colour. It inhabits the continental shelf and slope at depths of up to 200 m over sand and mud substrates where it preys on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. Studies in Japan indicate a length at sexual maturity of 17.4 cm on average, with spawning occurring between May and October, with each individual spawning multiple times. Whitefin trevally is of high importance to fisheries in Japan where they are taken by trawlers, although the catch numbers have halved since the 1980s. It is of minor importance elsewhere throughout its range, and is considered a good table fish.