Yellowtail Jack

Seriola lalandi

Yellowtail Jack

Seriola lalandi

Other Common Names
Yellowtail amberjack, california yellowtail

Open Sea

Other Common Names

Yellowtail amberjack, california yellowtail

At the Aquarium

Open Sea

Appearance

The body of the yellowtail jack tapers at both ends. Their body is blue-indigo, while their sides and belly are silver. They have a yellowish bronze stripe along the lateral line. The caudal fin is also yellow.

Yellowtail jack may grow up to 2.5 meters in length and may weigh up to 80 pounds.

Habitat

Coastal and oceanic waters, off kelp beds, rocky areas and estuaries.

Diet

Small fishes and squids.

Life History

Yellowtail jacks are mostly solitary, but can sometimes be found in small groups. Schools of juveniles are generally found in offshore waters, near or beyond the continental shelf.

Yellowtail jack spawn during the summer, from June to October. Most females can release up to 150 eggs during spawning. Yellowtail jack eggs are externally fertilized.

Fertilized eggs develop into larvae that grow into juveniles. Yellowtail jack are fast growing, with most individuals reaching maturity at 2 to 3 years old.

Yellowtail jack have an average lifespan of 5 to 6 years with a max of 12 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Yellowtail jacks are of high recreational and commercial value globally. There are established aquaculture industries in Japan, China, New Zealand and Australia.

Yellowtail jack eggs and larvae are eaten by mollusks, echinoderms, crabs, and fish. Adults are prey for a variety of species including great white sharks and California sea lions.

Historically, yellowtail have been lumped into a single species, Seriola lalandi. However, a recent study has found that yellowtail make up three distinct genetic populations. Those found in the southern hemisphere are still classified as S. landandi while those found in the Northwestern Pacific are now S. aureovittata. Yellowtail found along the West Coast of the United States are now classified as Seriola dorsalis.

Yellowtail found on the west coast of the United States, including along the Oregon coast, are now classified as Seriola dorsalis.

Over 40 species of symbiotic parasites live on the gills and within the guts of yellowtail jack.

Citations & Other Resources

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. and I. Williams. 2015. Seriola lalandi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.
Goddard, B. K., L.M. Otter, J.M. Hughes, F.R.A. Jaine, J.C. Martino, U. Troitzsch, J. Doherty, and H.T. Schilling. 2025. Structure and composition of yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi ) otoliths: implications for using aquaculture‐reared fish to reconstruct life histories. Journal of Fish Biology, 107(4), 1188–1200. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70110
California Sea Grant. N.d. Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi). California Seafood Profiles. https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/seafood-profiles/yellowtail
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. N.d. California Yellowtail Enhanced Status Report. Marine Species Portal. https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/yellowtail/the-species/#sec-1-1

Yellowtail Jack

Yellowtail Jack

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

About Oregon Coast Aquarium