Species profile
Banded Rudderfish
Seriola zonata
At a glance
Banded Rudderfish (Seriola zonata) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Louisiana); the most generous is 20 (Federal Waters (NOAA)).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 14.0 in (≈ 1 ft 2 in).
Confirmed by 136 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Nova Scotia, Florida, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Juveniles sport 6 dark vertical bands on their sides that fade completely as they mature.
- Young fish commonly shelter beneath jellyfish and floating debris far offshore.
- Found in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Brazil.
- Adults can reach about 70 cm (28 inches) in length.
- Closely related to the Greater Amberjack and often caught alongside jacks by anglers.
Where Banded Rudderfish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Banded Rudderfish
Background
The banded rudderfish (Seriola zonata), also known as the slender amberjack, banded mackerel or shark pilot, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Carangidae, the jacks and pompanos from the western Atlantic Ocean.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Banded Rudderfish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.