Last Update : Sunday 25 November, 2001 8:57 PM

		Illust : Anuwat Saisaen

Threadfin jack
Scientific name	Alectes ciliaris
Common name	Threadfin jack
Size	1 meter
Dispersion	Pelagic fish in the Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand.
Area found	Rock piles in the middle of the sea.
Depth	5 – 40 meters
Feed on	Small fish, sprats.
Situation	Getting to be difficult to find.
Conservation	No other management.
Fish Tip	Divers do not usually meet them except by a very good chance.

           I remember that I was diving at Richeliu rock pile, when I looked up the water mass for whale shark or great barracuda a group of fish swam speedily pass me. Four or five fish swimming in front was trevally. That was normal. But the following fish was not normal because he was “threadfin jack”.

           The one I saw was still a teenager. His dorsal and anal fins were very long. He was so beautiful. But he swam so fast that I did not have a chance to take even a single shot.

           I had met threadfin jack once again at the rock pile near Tao Island. But he was an adult with relatively shorter fins, not as long as the one I saw at Richeliu.

           Actually, threadfin jack is a game fish well known by anglers. There were plenty of them in the past, usually took a bite of the bait in the middle of the water. Tens of them were caught in each fishing trip. But now it is so difficult just to get one. This piece of information indicates the situation of threadfin jack in the Thai Sea.

           They are pelagic fish in the same Family Carangidae as jack trevally rainbow etc.Almost all fish in this group is pelagic fish, swimming back and forth all the time. It is a rare case that they come down to the floor. They reproduce by pelagic egg, floating in the water, becoming plankton before growing up to be young and grown fish. During these times many have been eaten. So, they have to have plenty of eggs.

           Young threadfin jack has long pelvic and anal fins. Some people say that they imitate jellyfish. But I am not very sure about this piece of information. When they grow up the fins grow shorter. When they are grown the fins will not be longer than the tail. But they are still beautiful fish.

           The prominent characteristics of pelagic fish are large eyes and wide mouth, suitable for looking at small preys in the water, swimming in and taking them in one bite. Their body is suitable for speeding and abrupt direction change. Notice the illustration by Tee.

           This is just about the story of threadfin jack. There is no information on where to find him because I cannot tell either. Take it like this. When you go diving at rock piles look around you in the water mass.

           You might spot the most beautiful pelagic fish in the Thai Sea…threadfin jack.

 

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