What Divers Should Know About Golden Trevally

Cruising the inshore waters of tropical and subtropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, observers might notice the distinctive golden trevally. Easily identified by its fleshy, rubbery lips and striking colouration, this species stands out on both reef and sandy substrates. Juveniles present a vibrant bright yellow with 7 to 11 prominent black vertical crossbars across their body. As they mature, these bars fade, and the fish transitions to a silvery-golden hue, though fins often retain their yellow tone.

Known also as the golden kingfish, golden trevally can reach impressive sizes, up to 120 centimetres (47 inches) in length and 15 kilograms (33 pounds). Younger individuals often school, exhibiting a fascinating behavior of closely following larger objects like sharks or jellyfish. Using highly protractile jaws, they expertly suck out their prey, which includes a variety of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, from both the sand and reef.