Yellowtail
A circumglobal jack found in subtropical waters across the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, yellowtail are built for speed and raw pulling power.
They stack up around rocky reefs, kelp beds, and offshore islands, where their bulldog runs toward structure test both tackle and anglers.
Known as yellowtail kingfish in Australia and New Zealand, and as California yellowtail along the Eastern Pacific coast, this is one species that earns its reputation through sheer muscle.
Scientific Name: Seriola lalandi
Also known as California yellowtail, Yellowtail amberjack, Yellowtail kingfish, Mossback, YT
- Blue-indigo back fading to silver sides and belly, with a narrow bronze-to-yellow horizontal stripe running along the lateral line toward the tail.
- The caudal fin is distinctly yellow — the clearest field mark — and most other fins carry a yellowish tint as well.
- Not the same fish as yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), a smaller Caribbean/Atlantic species; the two share a name but nothing else.
- Common catches run 5–20 lbs; fish over 40 lbs are large by any standard, and the species can exceed 200 lbs at maximum size.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Circumglobal in subtropical seas, with populations in the Eastern Pacific from British Columbia south to Chile, across the Indo-Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii, South Africa), and in the Eastern Atlantic.
- A benthopelagic species that ranges from near the surface down to roughly 825 meters, though anglers most often encounter fish in the upper water column around structure.
- Warm-water dependent — most active and concentrated in the 64–75°F (18–24°C) range, which drives seasonal availability in higher-latitude fisheries.
- Rocky reefs, kelp beds, and offshore islands are the core habitat; floating kelp paddies far offshore also concentrate fish, especially in summer.
Specific Spots
- Rocky reefs and underwater pinnacles pull yellowtail because the structure holds baitfish — work the up-current edge where forage gets swept into the fish's path.
- Floating kelp paddies offshore act as shade and cover for baitfish schools; yellowtail cruise beneath them and can be found stacked tight to the mat.
- Kelp bed edges near shore hold resident fish year-round in some areas — the outside corners and points where current pushes bait are the most productive zones.
Yellowtail FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Yellowtail?
Live sardines, anchovies, or mackerel are the top producers across the range, fished on a lightly weighted or free-lined hook near structure or under a kelp paddy.
What do Yellowtail eat?
Sardines, anchovies, and round herring are the primary forage in most of their range, live versions of these baits fished near structure are the single most effective presentation.
Where do Yellowtail live?
Circumglobal in subtropical seas, with populations in the Eastern Pacific from British Columbia south to Chile, across the Indo-Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii, South Africa), and in the Eastern Atlantic.
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