How to catch Giant Trevally

Caranx ignobilis

Also known as GT, ulua.

Giant trevally are the bullies of the Indo-Pacific reefs, striking poppers with savage aggression and testing the heaviest tackle.

🏆 World record: 160 lb IGFA all-tackle, Tokara, Kagoshima, Japan (2006). IGFA all-tackle world record giant trevally, 160 pounds 7 ounces caught off Tokara, Japan in 2006, remarkably landed from shore. Records can change, so check igfa.org. All records →

Where to find them

Reefs, drop-offs, atolls, and current-swept points

Season

Year-round in the tropics

Best baits & lures for Giant Trevally

large poppers and stickbaitslive bait

Cast big poppers over reefs and current lines and work them fast. Heavy tackle is a must to stop them from reaching structure.

Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Giant Trevally when conditions line up.

Catch to table: Giant Trevally

A world-class gamefish that many anglers release; the meat is edible but coarse, and large specimens in some tropical regions carry ciguatera risk. If keeping smaller fish, check local advisories.

Taste: Firm, dense, and fairly strong-flavored with dark, meaty flesh. Best in smaller fish and improved by bold seasoning.

Cleaning: Bleed and fillet, trimming the heavy dark bloodline; smaller fish are milder and lower risk than large ones.

How to cook it

• Grill or blacken smaller fillets with bold spices.
• Cube and use in a hearty fish curry.
• Fry battered chunks with strong seasoning.

Tip: Release large fish, which carry higher ciguatera risk; if keeping smaller ones, bleed, ice, and check local advisories.

Ikejime this fish for firmer, cleaner-tasting fillets and longer shelf life.

Where to catch Giant Trevally

Cairns, Australia Phuket, Thailand Okinawa, Japan Durban, South Africa Watamu, Kenya Zanzibar, Tanzania Mahé, Seychelles Malé, Maldives Nosy Be, Madagascar Bali, Indonesia Kuala Rompin, Malaysia Mirissa, Sri Lanka Darwin, Northern Territory Denarau, Fiji Exmouth, Western Australia Port Douglas, Queensland Port Vila, Vanuatu Tahiti, French Polynesia

Book a Giant Trevally charter

Guides and charter boats that target Giant Trevally, by destination:

Cairns charters Phuket charters Okinawa charters Durban charters Watamu charters Zanzibar charters Mahé charters Malé charters

Catching Giant Trevally: FAQ

What's the best bait for Giant Trevally?

Proven options include large poppers and stickbaits, live bait. Cast big poppers over reefs and current lines and work them fast. Heavy tackle is a must to stop them from reaching structure.

When is the best time to catch Giant Trevally?

Year-round in the tropics. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.

Where do you find Giant Trevally?

Look for Reefs, drop-offs, atolls, and current-swept points. Anglers target them at spots like Cairns, Phuket, Okinawa.

Anglers also target

Barracuda Sailfish Mahi-Mahi (Dorado)Wahoo Yellowfin Tuna

Time your next Giant Trevally trip

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