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Top Locations for Giant Trevally Fishing
Everything to Know About Booking a giant trevally fishing charter
What are the best giant trevally fishing charters?
Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 4 giant trevally trips, and the most popular trips are Spearfishing Baja California guided by Don, Kaua'i Quick Offshore Run guided by Ikena, and Ho'okipa Fishing Trip guided by Ikena.
All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.
What types of giant trevally fishing charters are common?
Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for giant trevally as well as nearshore fishing.
The most common fishing techniques are trolling, live bait fishing, and jigging but cut bait fishing and bottom fishing are popular as well.
How much do giant trevally fishing charters cost?
for giant trevally prices can range anywhere from $700 to $1,100, but the average price for a half day for giant trevally is $800. The average price for a full day for giant trevally is $975.
When is the best month to go giant trevally fishing?
The most popular season for giant trevally fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 37 days in advance.
Do I need a fishing license for giant trevally and what are the bag limits for giant trevally?
See here for more information on giant trevally fishing licenses, giant trevally bag limits, and fishing season regulations for giant trevally. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right giant trevally rules and regulations.
What is a giant trevally fish?
Giant trevally fish have it all. GTs are a member of the family of fish known as either jacks or trevallies, and the GT has adopted a number of names for itself which, again, speak to how iconic and well-known this fish is. Alternatively known as the lowly trevally, barrier trevally, giant kingfish, ulua, or its scientific name, Caranx ignobilis, the GT fish is a fish of many names.
Giant trevally Are typically silver in color and have some dark freckles, and males can get darker as they mature. Like many species in the jack family, they have a high, sloping forehead.
An extremely powerful and athletic fish for their size, giant trevally have historically been held in extremely high regard by many local populations. In Hawaii, they were revered as the famous Ulua, and considered an almost human, warrior-like fish that could not be eaten by women or hunted by commoners. There are stories that say when human sacrifice was not available, GTs would be used instead.
How big do giant trevally get?
Giant trevally can grow to fairly substantial sizes as the largest member of its scientific family. Giant trevallies have a total length between 30 and 70 inches, height between 10 and 20 inches, and an overall weight in the range of 30-130 pounds. They are commonly found no bigger than 3 feet and 50 pounds.
Whats the biggest giant trevally ever caught?
The IGFA all-tackle world record giant trevally is a massive 160+ pounder caught in Japan of all places.
Where is the best place to catch giant trevally?
Geographically you can catch giant trevally anywhere in the Indian Ocean, as well as anywhere in the Western Pacific from New Zealand to Japan. There have also been murmurs of a few fish being spotted on the west coast of South America, but it remains to be seen if populations will establish themselves there.
In terms of habitat, giant trevally are known to inhabit a fairly wide range of marine environments, including closer to shore areas like bays and lagoons (especially while they are younger and may not require or prefer as much salt water), as well as deeper reefs and atolls.
The GT is considered a semipelagic fish and will alternate between inshore and offshore waters, as well as up and down in the water column. They are also known to locally travel - moving between reefs and from deeper to shallower waters - and often have a territory where they hunt.
When should I catch giant trevally?
In terms of time of day, you'll want to target them sunrise and sunset, or otherwise when the baitfish are swimming most prominently in the area. In terms of season, this will depend on where in the world you are as giant trevally vary widely in terms of their range and location. For more popular fishing areas like Australia, the busiest season will be October to December, but there, like in most places, the fish can be caught year-round.
How do you catch giant trevally?
The giant trevally is a solitary fish for the most part, only congregating while mating or occasionally to hunt together. And since they are known to move around while hunting, they can be notoriously difficult to locate. When in deeper water you will need to chum. In shallower water, you should aim for the flats where you will be able to see them tail and push water before them.
Since giant trevallies are voracious hunters and will eat tons of different food, they can be caught on a wide variety of lures and baits. They are said to be susceptible to poppers and the noise they make, but many individuals have made work many strategies and lures. Many fly fishermen consider GT to be one of the top saltwater targets and will try to take them on the fly.
Once hooked, GTs are powerful and strong and will fight hard - one of the reasons they are such an awesome fish to catch and so well known as a gamefish. You will need heavy tackle.
Are giant trevally good to eat? What are the best giant trevally recipes?
While the GT historically has been eaten in many parts of the world, this is falling out of practice. The fishery has been somewhat in decline, and in addition there have been rumors of suspected ciguatera (a toxin found in certain reef fish). Most anglers today practice catch and release to show respect for the fish, and they are mainly fished for the thrill, challenge, and the fight, rather than for the table fare.
More Fishing Trips
Other Species to Target
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Alligator
- Alligator Gar
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Arctic Char
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Atlantic Salmon
- Barracuda
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Duck
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
- Blackbelly Rosefish
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Catfish
- Blue Marlin
- Blue Shark
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Bluebill
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bluefish
- Bluegill
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Bowfin
- Bream
- Brook Trout
- Broomtail Grouper
- Brown Trout
- Bufflehead
- Bull Shark
- Bull Trout
- Bullhead Catfish
- Burbot
- Calico Bass
- California Corbina
- California Sheephead
- Canada Goose
- Canvasback
- Carp
- Cero Mackerel
- Channel Catfish
- Chinook Salmon
- Chum Salmon
- Cichlid
- Cinnamon Teal
- Clown Knifefish
- Cobia
- Cod
- Coho Salmon
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Merganser
- Crab
- Crappie
- Cubera Snapper
- Cutthroat Trout
- Dolly Varden
- Dove
- False Albacore
- Flathead Catfish
- Florida Pompano
- Flounder
- Fluke
- Freshwater Drum
- Gadwall
- Gag Grouper
- Garfish
- Golden Dorado
- Golden Trout
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Green-Winged Teal
- Grunt
- Guadalupe Bass
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hardhead Catfish
- Hog
- Hogfish
- Hooded Merganser
- Horse-eye Jack
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Iguana
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lake Trout
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lemon Shark
- Leopard Shark
- Lingcod
- Lionfish
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mallard
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mexican Duck
- Mottled Duck
- Mullet Snapper
- Muskie
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Northern Pike
- Northern Pintail
- Northern Shoveler
- Nurse Shark
- Peacock Bass
- Perch
- Permit
- Pink Salmon
- Pink Snapper
- Pollock
- Porbeagle Shark
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Rainbow Trout
- Ray
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Red-Breasted Merganser
- Redfish
- Redhead
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
- Rockfish
- Roosterfish
- Sailfish
- Sauger
- Scallop
- Scamp Grouper
- Sculpin
- Scup
- Shad
- Sheepshead
- Shrimp
- Skate
- Skipjack Tuna
- Smallmouth Bass
- Smallmouth Buffalo
- Snook
- Snow Goose
- Snowy Grouper
- Sockeye Salmon
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Specklebelly Goose
- Speckled Trout
- Spotted Bass
- Steelhead
- Stingray
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Bass
- Striped Marlin
- Sturgeon
- Sunfish
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Tautog
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tigerfish
- Tilapia
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Walleye
- Warsaw Grouper
- Weakfish
- White Bass
- White Marlin
- White Seabass
- Whiting
- Wigeon
- Wood Duck
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Other Techniques to Try
- Artificial Lure Fishing
- Blind Hunting
- Bottom Fishing
- Bowfishing
- Calling
- Cut Bait Fishing
- Decoy Hunting
- Deep Dropping
- Drift Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Gigging
- Heavy Tackle Fishing
- Hunting With Dogs
- Ice Fishing
- Jigging
- Kayak Fishing
- Kite Fishing
- Light Tackle Fishing
- Live Bait Fishing
- Management Hunting
- Rifle Hunting
- Scalloping
- Shotgun Hunting
- Sight Casting
- Spearfishing
- Surf Fishing
- Topwater Fishing
- Trolling
- Wading
Other Types of Fishing
States
Cities
Countries
Other Featured Cities
- Aransas Pass, TX
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- Biloxi, MS
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- Cancun, MX
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- Corpus Christi, TX
- Crystal River, FL
- Dauphin Island, AL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- Destin, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers. FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Freeport, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Islamorada, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jupiter, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- Kona, HI
- Marathon, FL
- Marco Island, FL
- Miami, FL
- Naples, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Orange Beach, AL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port O'Connor, TX
- Rockport, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sarasota, FL
- South Padre Island, TX
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Tarpon Springs, FL
- Tulum, Mexico
- Venice, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wilmington, NC