Jacks & Pompanos
Bar Jack
Caranx ruber
- Size
- Typically 20-35 cm (8-14 in) per ReefGuide; common 50 cm TL (20 in); maximum recorded 73 cm FL (29 in), 8.2 kg (FishBase).
- Habitat
- Clear insular waters and coral reefs off mainland coasts; juveniles in floating algae such as Sargassum (FishBase).
- Diet
- Fishes, shrimps and other invertebrates (FishBase).
- Range
- Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda, Gulf of America, Brazil (ReefGuide); western Atlantic from New Jersey and Bermuda to southern Brazil, most common in the West Indies (FishBase).
Life stages
No separate juvenile or phase photos on ReefGuide; FishBase notes juveniles associate with algae such as Sargassum.
Ecological role
Abundant schooling reef predator of small fishes and crustaceans.
Explore reef conservation
Learn about Caribbean reef habitats, invasive lionfish and the work of the Caribbean Reef Fish Foundation.
TL means total length; SL excludes the tail fin; FL measures to the tail fork. These measurements are not interchangeable.