Home · Carangidae · Barred jack
Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) — Carangidae

Barred jack

Caranx vinctus
Family: Carangidae
LC · Least Concern

The Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) is a saltwater fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 37 cm.

Length
37 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific; coastal and oceanic waters.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Barred jack?

Get the app

Description

The cocinero is a jack of the family Carangidae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 37 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with a blue-green back, a few dark crossbars in juveniles and a row of hardened scales (scutes) along the rear lateral line. Adults live in coastal and oceanic waters and form fast schools. As a fast predator it hunts small fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans. The cocinero is a local food and bait fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred jack?

The Barred jack has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Hardened scales along the rear lateral line; fast, schooling coastal predator.

Where does the Barred jack live?

The Barred jack lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Eastern Pacific; coastal and oceanic waters.

How big does the Barred jack get?

The Barred jack grows to a maximum of about 37 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Barred jack dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred jack is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Barred jack edible?

Yes, the Barred jack is commonly eaten.

More photos

Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) — Carangidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) — Carangidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) — Carangidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Kare Kare (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Barred jack (Caranx vinctus) — Carangidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Kare Kare (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Barred jack?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Barred jack is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Barred jack verified
Scientific name
Caranx vinctus
Family
Carangidae
Other names
Cocinero; Jack; Striped jack verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
37.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern Pacific; coastal and oceanic waters. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Hardened scales along the rear lateral line; fast, schooling coastal predator. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Caranx

More from the family Carangidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Barred jack?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Barred jack is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Barred jack? Get the app