A, P - December 18, 2020

POMPANO, AFRICAN

Scientific Name:

Alectis ciliaris

Salt/Fresh:

Salt

Also Known As:

Cuban Jack; Atlantic Threadfin; Threadfin; Pennantfish; Cobblerfish; Pennantfish Trevally; Pennant Fish; AFRICAN POMPANO; Ciliated Thread-fish; Cordonnier; Crevalle; Cuban jack; Diamond Trevally; Fiddler; Hairfish; Indian Threadfin Trevally; Jack; Jacks; Pennant Trevally; Pompano; Shoemaker; Sunfish; Thread Pompano; Thread-fin Jackfish; Threadfin Mirrorfish; Threadfin Pompano; Threadfin Trevally, Threadfinned Trevally, Thread-finned Trevally, Threadfish, Trevally

Rating:

Countries:

Australia

Other Countries

United States

Description:

The African Pompano is a widely distributed species of tropical marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is found in tropical waters worldwide, with adults often inhabiting coastlines, while juveniles are usually pelagic, floating with ocean currents. The adult African Pompano is similar in appearance to the other members of the genus Alectis, with the concave shape of the head near the eyes the clearest distinguishing feature. The juveniles are similar to other members of Alectis, having long, filamentous dorsal and anal fin tips which are thought to discourage predators. The species lives in depths less than 100 m, consuming a range of crustaceans and small fishes. The species is of minor economic importance, often taken amongst other tropical midwater fishes by hook and line, while juveniles are occasionally caught in beach seines. African pompano are also highly rated game fish, often considered one of the strongest of the jacks in larger sizes.

How To Identify:

Like many of the Carangidae, the African Pompano is a deep and laterally compressed fish, with the deepest point of the body located between the origin of the dorsal and anal fins and having the head and tail tapering either side. The dorsal and ventral profiles are equally convex, with a major distinguishing feature of the adult being its more curved head compared toAlectis indicus' more angular head profile. The species has four to seven visible spines in the first dorsal fin followed by a single spine and 18 to 20 soft rays in the second dorsal. The anal fin has two spines followed by 15 or 16 soft rays, while the pectoral fin is long and curved. The skin of the fish appears scaleless, but has minute, embedded scales scattered on the body. The lateral line has a strong and moderately long arch dorsally, with its posterior section having 12 to 30 scutes. The juveniles are distinctive due to their 'threadfin' appearance of having trailing anal and dorsal fin filaments which recede with age. During maturation, the species also becomes more elongate and more like that of other genera of jacks. The body is a silvery-metallic blue to blue-green colour above, being darkest on the head and upper shoulders while the underside is more silvery. The juveniles have five chevron-shaped dark bars on their bodies, with a black blotch at the base of the third to sixth soft dorsal fin rays. The base of the filaments is a dark blue to black, with all other fins pale to hyaline in appearance. The African Pompano is known to definitely reach a length of 130 cm, although larger specimens to 150 cm have been reported, but are not considered reliable. The maximum published weight of the species is 22.9 kg.

How To Catch:

As one of the pets of the light-tackle fraternity, most African Pompano are caught by jigging deep in the vicinity of wrecks or offshore drop-offs with spinning and bait casting tackler; or by fishing deep with light ocean tackle and live bait. They generally hang too deep to interest fly fishermen, although a few have been caught by blind-fishing over wrecks with sinking lines, or by chumming them to the surface with live chum. A variety of heavy jigs and large streamers will work especially if trimmed with silvery Mylar. Pinfish, Pilchards and similar small fish are the live baits of choice. African Pompano are occasionally caught by trolling over the reefs with feathers or rigged baits.

Where Found:

Internationally

The African Pompano is distributed throughout the tropical oceans and seas of the world in a temperature range of 65 to 80 °F (18 to 27 °C), although is more often found in coastal waters. The species has been recorded from both the east and west coasts of the USA, South America and Africa, throughout the Indian Ocean and along Asia and Australia, as well as many islands in the Pacific. The African pompano range into more temperate waters, with juveniles in particular captured off southeastern and western Australia, presumably carried by ocean currents.

Australia

In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country to the southern coast of New South Wales.

POMPANO, AFRICAN

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