Bigeye (Ojoton) & Bluefin (Verdecillo) Trevally
The basic body structure of a Bigeye Trevally is similar to that of the Jack Crevalle, perhaps being slightly more slender and elongated. And I guess because of this, it is often mistaken as being a Jack Crevalle. Outside of a somewhat similar body structure, it is quite a different fish. The head of the Bigeye Trevally is curved to a slightly pointed snout, rather than the blunter one of the Crevalle. It has huuuuuge dark eyes, which really stand out, probably more so than any other sport fish I know of. The Bigeye’s body color is basically silvery to dusky or dark, especially along the back. The dorsal fin usually has a white tip and all the yellow highlights which are prominent in a Jack Crevalle, such as they are around the fins and its scutes (those little bumpy fins just before the tail), are black on a Bigeye. An average Bigeye Trevally would be 6 to 8 pounds, with a 12 pounder being a nice one and a 15 pounder being huge.
The Bluefin Trevally is a real looker in the fish world. It can be legitimately argued that the Bluefin Trevally is the most beautiful of all Jacks and Trevallies and for its size and body shape, is probably the strongest as well. It is the same fish known sometimes as the Blue Star Jack. The body of the Bluefin Trevally is the deepest and broadest of all its relatives. The back half of the fish is almost as broad as the front half, which gives this Trevally its incredible strength. I've reeled in 10 pound ones and been surprised at its size, thinking that I had had a larger Amberjack or Yellowtail on instead. The Bluefin Trevally has a high blunt head, slanting to a pointed snout, with body color silvery to blue with neon blue hues throughout and lots of black spots, intermittent with smaller fluorescent blue spots throughout the body and head. Its fins and tail are brilliantly fluorescent blue.
Almost all (if not all) of both Trevally species I've caught have been on topwater lures, both Rangers and popper-type lures cast
around the rocks from shore or from a panga. In fact, on one outing, I caught two Bigeyes on one lure at the same time on one cast, that lure being one of my old Klassic Poppers, which I made just for catching these kinds of rocky area fish. Both can also be caught slow-trolling live bait around rocky areas, pinnacles and banks. Both of these fish tend to be somewhat boat shy and for this reason I prefer to cast lures, from a distance, before working a rocky area with live bait.
Bluefin Trevally have fairly light colored flesh and are considered good eating. I've used them for sashimi in a pinch. Bigeyes are also edible, but are a bit gamier than the Bluefin.
For more info on the Bluefin & Bigeye Trevallies and other fish species, order my book "Fishing ... Mexican Style".