Yellow JackorCrevalle Jack
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Yellow Jack
Slender, clean-lined jack that turns brassy-gold toward the tail; no fin blotches anywhere.
Crevalle Jack
Blunt head, black pectoral spot, brute pull.
Crevalle jack, next to yellow jack: steep head and a dark pectoral blotch.
Side by side
| Yellow Jack | Crevalle Jack | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Caranx bartholomaei | Caranx hippos |
| Also called | — | — |
| Waters | Nearshore | Inshore |
| Heaviest state record | 27.6 lb · Florida (2025) | 57.88 lb · Louisiana (1997) |
| On the table | Very good — among the best-eating jacks. | Poor — dark and bloody; bleed it or release it. |
| Rules of its own in | 0 states | 0 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
| State | Yellow Jack: size · bag · season | Crevalle Jack: size · bag · season |
|---|
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, yellow jack or crevalle jack, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell yellow jack from crevalle jack?
Yellow Jack: Slender, clean-lined jack that turns brassy-gold toward the tail; no fin blotches anywhere. Crevalle Jack: Blunt head, black pectoral spot, brute pull. Crevalle jack, next to yellow jack: steep head and a dark pectoral blotch.
Which gets bigger, yellow jack or crevalle jack?
Crevalle Jack. The heaviest state record we hold is 57.88 lb in Louisiana; the heaviest yellow jack record is 27.6 lb in Florida.
Which is better to eat, yellow jack or crevalle jack?
Yellow Jack: Very good — among the best-eating jacks. Crevalle Jack: Poor — dark and bloody; bleed it or release it.