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TREVALLY, TILLE
The tille trevally, Caranx tille (also known as the tille kingfish), is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is best distinguished by its rounded, strongly convex anterior profile, with other detailed anatomical features also useful. The tille trevally reaches a maximum length of 80 cm and a weight of 7.2 kg. It is predominantly an inshore species, inhabiting coastal reef and lagoon environments, although has been recorded on deep offshore seamounts. It is a predatory fish, taking various species of fish and crustaceans as prey, with little known of its reproductive cycle. It is of minor importance to fisheries throughout its range, taken by hook and line, gill nets and purse seines. The tille trevally is also considered a good game fish, and an excellent table fish. The species acquired its scientific and common names from a local name used by Pondicherry fishermen, koton tille, which Georges Cuvier then used when he named the species in 1833.
The tille trevally is a large species, growing to a maximum known length of 80 cm and a recorded weight of 7.3 kg. It is similar in general appearance to most jacks in the genus, having a compressed, oblong body, with the dorsal profile moreconvex than the ventral profile, particularly anteriorly. This curvature gives the fish a discernibly 'blunt' head and steep snout, which is the most obvious identifying feature of the species. The dorsal fin is in two distinct sections; the first consists of eight spine and the second of one spine and 20 to 22 soft rays. The anal fin consists of two anteriorly detached spines followed by one spine and 16 to 18 soft rays, while the pelvic fins have one spine followed by 18 soft rays. The lateral lineis moderately arched anteriorly, with 53 to 54 scales in this section, while the straight section contains none to two scales and 33 to 42 strong scutes. The breast is completely scaled. The species has well-developed adipose eyelids, while its dentition consists of an outer row of widely spaced canines and an inner band of villiform teeth in the upper jaw, with a row of widely spaced conical teeth on the lower jaw. The tille trevally has 22 to 25 gill rakers and 24 vertebrae.
The tille trevally is generally a uniformly pale olive to silvery grey colour all over as a juvenile, with the fins being pale to dusky. As the fish becomes larger, the head and upper body become a darker olive green to bluish-grey colour, with the underside fading to a silvery white. The second dorsal fin is olive to black and lacks the white tip shown by Caranx papuensis, while the caudal and anal fins are yellow-olive to black. The species has a black spot on the upper opercularmargin.
Trevally aren’t known for being fussy and will generally hit hard and fast on pretty much anything that is presented to them. Sometimes it’s considered the action or movement is more important than that actual bait or colour of the lure that is being used.
However, there are some baits that do work quiet well. Prawns, pipis, mullet, herring and worms are considered some of the best baits, and again, fresh is best.
As mentioned above, Trevally will take quite a few varieties of baits and lures, and lures that work quiet well are; chrome jigs, diving lures (medium and deep), large poppers and small diving minnows.
Many different techniques can be used to catch Trevally. Live baits and fresh baits are quite successful, with berley bombs being used to attract them when using strip baits.
Internationally
Tille trevally can be found in Indo-West Pacific: Zanzibar (Tanzania) to Durban (South Africa), Madagascar and Sri Lanka; north to Okinawa, Ryukyus, south to the Arafura Sea, Australia and Fiji. Distribution in the Indian Ocean not well established.
Australia
Tille trevally can be found in the northern part of the Australia continent, from Western Australia and Queensland.