Horse-eye Jack
Caranx latus
Also called Bigeye jack.
How to tell it
Big-eyed crevalle look-alike with a blacker tail, full scute row, and NO dark blotch on the pectoral fin.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called horse-eye jack, and what gives each one away.
- Crevalle jack: Dark pectoral blotch, steeper head. Tell them apart
- Yellow jack: Slimmer, brassy-yellow rear half. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 lb 4 oz | 2022 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 26 lb | 2017 · Juno Beach | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 27.5 lb | 2004 · Ship Shoal Blk. 291 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 25 lb 5 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 32 lb | 2012 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
Wrecks and reef edges at night and dawn; a jig or a live bait in the school.
On the table
Eaten small; ciguatera caution on big island fish.
In the app
Point the camera at a horse-eye 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 horse-eye jack
How do you tell horse-eye jack from crevalle jack?
Horse-eye Jack: Big-eyed crevalle look-alike with a blacker tail, full scute row, and NO dark blotch on the pectoral fin. Crevalle jack: dark pectoral blotch, steeper head.
How do you catch horse-eye jack?
Wrecks and reef edges at night and dawn; a jig or a live bait in the school. Methods: casting, live bait, jigging. Baits: sardine, cigar minnow. Lures: bucktail, metal jig, popper.
What is the record horse-eye jack?
32 lb in Texas (2012), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.