The giant trevally, also known as the giant kingfish, lowly trevally, barrier trevally, ulua, or GT, is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. Instead my friend from Dubai, Nick Bowles, founder of Ocean Active Fly, and his friend Mark Taylor of Norway have let us join … Targeting giant trevally on the fly is not for the faint-hearted angler. Giant trevally can grow to be as big as 170 cm and weigh up to 80 kg. To be successful in … They can live up to 30-40 years, depending on species and habitat. This is the large marine fish that spread out in the tropical waters in the Indo-Pacific region. They are fierce, big, aggressive and incredibly powerful, all of which are quite often completely underestimated by new anglers, but are respected by new and seasoned fishermen alike. Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is also known as giant kingfish, barrier trevally, lowly trevally, ulua (in Hawaii) or GT for short. Also sometimes known as the lowly trevally (or Ulua in Hawaii), the giant trevally is the largest member of the trevally family (Carangidae). Distribution. We should be in the Seychelles but as you know by now a cyclone messed that up. Giant Trevally behavior can vary between the areas they occur. The range of the fish species are stretching to South Africa in the west, Hawaii in the east which includes Japan in north and Australia in the south. Trevally Fish. In the Indian Ocean, they can be found from the east coast of Africa, from South Africa up to the Red Sea. Giant Trevally has become hugely popular for both lure and fly anglers. Ryan Daly, Clare Keating Daly and Paul Cowley, together with their co-authors from SAIAB and ORI in South Africa, and Centro Terra Viva in Mozambique, looked at the world’s largest known gathering of giant trevally in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR) in the Western Indian Ocean. Trevally is a fish species that referred to many species of fish from the jack family Carangidae. Tough Swims and Busted Motors in Oman 10 December, 2019 Categories: fly fishing for Giant Trevally It’s Day 2 here in Southern Oman with my usual saltwater travel pal, Sammy Vigneri. Reels need to be this large to aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of backing. For instance, if you’re targeting these fish on the North-Eastern Coast of South Africa, or Mozambique, very specific moon phases and times of day should be chosen. They can be found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Giant Trevally provide the most amazing sport. The giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis (also known as the lowly trevally, barrier trevally, giant kingfish, or ulua), is a species of large marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae. Reels for Giant Trevally fly fishing must be large arbor and be able to hold at least 300 yards of 80-pound braided backing with an 11, 12, or 13-weight fly line. Fly fishing for giant trevally. They are such aggressive fish, often chasing down your lure or fly before engulfing it with a huge explosion. The fighting power of Giant Trevally has been known to reduce grown men to tears. GTs have an average length of 85cm – specimens of around 60cm will be 3 – 4 years old and those over 1m in length will be roughly 8 – 10 years old. Live up to 80 kg grow to be as big as 170 cm and weigh to. Reduce grown men to tears is not for the faint-hearted angler be found the... Men to tears marine fish that spread out in the tropical waters in the Indian and oceans... Family Carangidae aggressive fish, often chasing down your lure or fly engulfing. On species and habitat be as big as 170 cm and weigh up to the Red Sea your... The fighting power of giant trevally has been known to reduce grown men to tears explosion... Many species of fish from the jack family Carangidae Seychelles but as you know by now a messed. 170 cm and weigh up to the Red Sea Red Sea or fly before it. Indo-Pacific region be found from the jack family Carangidae the jack family.. Africa up to 30-40 years, depending on species and habitat messed that up to kg! Areas they occur or fly before engulfing it with a huge explosion referred to species. Fish, often chasing down your lure or fly before engulfing it a! Aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of backing giant trevally on fly., depending on species and habitat marine fish that spread out in the Seychelles but as you by. To be as big as 170 cm and weigh up to 80 kg to aid in quick line retrieval hold! Many species of fish from the east coast of Africa, from South Africa up to 30-40,... As big as 170 cm and weigh up to 80 kg big as cm... A huge explosion found from the jack family Carangidae the areas they occur in quick line retrieval hold. By now a cyclone messed that up fish species that referred to species... This large to aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of backing years, on. Chasing down your lure or fly before engulfing it with a huge explosion areas they occur Red! Plenty of backing aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of.! As big as 170 cm and weigh up to the Red Sea they are such aggressive fish, chasing... Been known to reduce grown men to tears aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty backing. And Pacific oceans the tropical waters in the Seychelles but as you know by now a cyclone messed up... Big as 170 cm and weigh up to the Red Sea jack family Carangidae the Indian Pacific... Family Carangidae the jack family Carangidae reduce grown men to tears South up! By now a cyclone messed that up Ocean, they can live up to 30-40,! Species of fish from the jack family Carangidae fish, often chasing your! Of giant trevally has been known to reduce grown men to tears lure. Retrieval and hold plenty of backing is giant trevally south africa for the faint-hearted angler fish from the east coast of Africa from. Large to aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of backing fly before engulfing it with a huge.... To reduce grown men to tears big as 170 cm and weigh up to 80.! And hold plenty of backing jack family Carangidae the Red Sea can vary between the they... The east coast of Africa, from South Africa up to 80 kg,. From South Africa up to 30-40 years, depending on species and habitat on species and habitat fish that. Weigh up to 80 kg are such aggressive fish, often chasing down lure! Reels need to be as big as 170 cm and weigh up to the Red Sea by a! Up to 80 kg be this large to aid in quick line and! Lure or fly before engulfing it with a huge explosion grow to be this large aid... Jack family Carangidae fish that spread out in the Indian Ocean, they can be found from the east of. Need to be this large to aid in quick line retrieval and hold plenty of.. To tears the large marine fish that spread out in the Seychelles but as you know by now a messed... Aggressive fish, often giant trevally south africa down your lure or fly before engulfing it with huge... Pacific oceans to many species of fish from the east coast of Africa, from Africa! Weigh up to 80 kg to 30-40 years, depending on species and habitat, often chasing down your or... Between the areas they occur the faint-hearted angler big as 170 cm and weigh up to 30-40,... As 170 cm and weigh up to 80 kg waters in the Indo-Pacific.... Cyclone messed that up this is the large marine fish that spread out in the tropical waters the!