Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Also known as Kanpachi, Kampachi, Kahala, Hawaiian yellowtail, Songoro amberjack, Medregal, Bar jack, Hamachi, Longfin yellowtail
Culinary Profile
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
Fatty yet firm, and very flaky and tender.
High in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Almaco jack have an elongated, slightly high-backed and laterally compressed body. Almaco jack are a dusky color with light amber/olive stripes down their sides. Their upper bodies and lower fins tend to be a dark blue-green to brown, with a much lighter underbelly that can appear almost lavender. They have a dark stripe that runs from the mouth through the eye, towards the dorsal fin.
Biology
Almaco jack can grow up to a little over 5 feet long and up to 136 pounds. On average, adults reach a length of 3 feet and weigh between 15 and 31 pounds. Almaco jack are known to form spawning groups.
Where They Live
Range Image John Galbraith holds an almaco jack on the deck of NOAA Ship Albatross IV during one of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s bottom trawl surveys. Credit: Northeast Fisheries Science Center Historical Photographs Almaco jack are a pelagic species of fish found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Gulf of America, Pacific Islands, and occasionally Southern California.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
Wild-caught in the Atlantic, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), and California.In the U.S., almaco jack is currently farmed in Hawaiʻi and Florida.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ), authorized gear for snapper-grouper species includes bandit gear, bottom longline, buoy gear, handline, rod and reel, sea bass pot, and spearfishing gear. When fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: Use of a dehooking tool is required. The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper-grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Almaco Jack ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 23.14 g | 7 / 111 | 94% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Zinc | 0.52 mg | 46 / 111 | 59% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.3 µg | 68 / 106 | 36% |
| Iron | 0.49 mg | 68 / 111 | 39% |
| Phosphorus | 157 mg | 106 / 111 | 5% |
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Almaco Jack, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the texture of Almaco Jack meat?
Fatty yet firm, and very flaky and tender.
How big does Almaco Jack get?
grow up to a little over 5 feet long and up to 136 pounds.
How much protein is in 100 g of Almaco Jack?
A 100 g raw serving of Almaco Jack provides 23.14 g of protein — roughly 46% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
Is Almaco Jack a good source of vitamin B12?
Yes — Almaco Jack provides 1.3 µg of vitamin B12 per 100 g raw, which is 54% of the 2.4 µg daily value.
How much Almaco Jack is caught commercially?
In the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ), authorized gear for snapper-grouper species includes bandit gear, bottom longline, buoy gear, handline, rod and reel, sea bass pot, and spearfishing gear. When fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: Use of a dehooking tool is required.
Sustainability Story
U.S. farmed and wild-caught almaco jack is a smart seafood choice because it is grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of almaco jack identified in the Southeastern United States—one stock contained in the Gulf of America Jacks Complex and one contained in the South Atlantic Jacks Complex. In the Gulf of America, almaco jack is part of the Gulf of America Jacks Complex and is not assessed, so the overfished status is unknown.
Population
The stock has never been assessed. The population level is unknown, but presumed stable.
Fishing Rate
At recommended level.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch almaco jack has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , and Gulf Fishery Management Councils manage almaco jack in federal waters. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council manages almaco jack in federal waters of the Pacific Islands Region. In the South Atlantic, almaco jack is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 17 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.