Fish

Bigeye trevally

Caranx sexfasciatus

By day, bigeye trevally often mill in large slow schools over reefs and wrecks. At night they scatter to hunt alone. Hang still outside the school, and never chase it.

Least ConcernIn 48 Atlas countries

Least Concern (IUCN, 2018) means it is not at high risk of extinction worldwide today.

School of bigeye trevally swirling near the seabed at Amed — Photo: Milos Prelevic on Unsplash

Three bigeye trevally swimming in open blue water — Photo: Rémi METIN on Unsplash

Dense school of bigeye trevally over a Maldives reef — Photo: Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash

Loose school of bigeye trevally in bright blue water — Photo: Rafaëlla Waasdorp on Unsplash

Wall of schooling trevally filling the frame — Photo: jean wimmerlin on Unsplash

Vertical column of schooling trevally in deep water — Photo: Jet Kim on Unsplash

Photos show the species, not always the places on this page.

Length

Commonly about 60 cm (2 ft); largest recorded about 1.2 m (3.9 ft)

Weight

Typical weight not well measured; largest recorded about 18 kg (40 lb)

Next to a person

Most are about a third as long as an adult is tall; the largest reach about 70% of an adult's height

What it eats

Mainly fish, plus squid, crustaceans and other invertebrates.

Around people

Harmless

How it lives

By day, bigeye trevally form large, slow-moving schools, often holding in one spot over a reef, channel or wreck. At night the schools break up and each fish hunts alone, mainly for other fish, but also for squid and crustaceans. At dusk, pairs may leave the school to spawn.

Where it goes

By day the schools often hold in one spot over a reef or wreck. At night they break up and the fish spread out to hunt alone. No long ocean migration is known, but adults may shift between reefs.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, and in the eastern Pacific from Mexico to Ecuador and the Galápagos. Young fish grow up in sandy bays and mangrove estuaries. There are no known subspecies, and spawning seasons differ between regions.

Meet it respectfully

Stay outside the school and let it move around you. Never touch, chase, herd, surround or feed the fish, and do not swim into the school. If you hang still, it may come near you. That is their choice. Keep your fins off the wreck and the coral.

Fun fact

Tap the bulb to light it up.

Where you may meet it

Bigeye trevally in the Ocean Atlas

Places we have researched where this animal is recorded. It is never guaranteed, and some places are for watching from the boat only.

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