Bar Jack
Caranx ruber
How to tell it
Sleek jack with electric blue-and-black stripe along the back into the tail.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Gulf), Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7.75 lb | 1999 · Miami | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
Reef and flats edges; cast small jigs into the school.
On the table
Good; ciguatera caution on southern reefs.
In the app
Point the camera at a bar jack and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about bar jack
How many bar jack can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; Georgia: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; North Carolina: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species.
How do you catch bar jack?
Reef and flats edges; cast small jigs into the school. Methods: casting, live bait, trolling. Baits: sardine, shrimp. Lures: bucktail, soft plastic, spoon.
What is the record bar jack?
7.75 lb in Florida (1999), Miami. Other states’ records are in the table.