rainbow runner
Elagatis bipinnulata
A pelagic jack with a rocket-shaped body and blue bands, found around distant shoals, islands and floating objects. It hits jigs and poppers at speed and makes long runs.
Also called: camisa-de-meia, arabaiana-azul, xixarro-salmão, guaxumba, rainbow runner
- common size
- 50–90 cm
- maximum
- 180 cm
- common weight
- 2–7 kg
- record/max.
- 17.0 kg
- depth
- 0–150 m
- ideal water
- 24–28 °C
who is the rainbow runner
A relative of the jacks and the greater amberjack, the rainbow runner lives in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. In the western Atlantic it ranges from Massachusetts to Rio de Janeiro. It is a clear-water, open-sea fish: it moves near the surface over distant reefs and shoals, around oceanic islands and around logs, buoys and other drifting objects, often in large schools. It eats plankton crustaceans and small fish. In sport fishing it shows up in jigging, popper and trolling near islands, shoals and fish attractors. It exceeds 1 m and is excellent to eat: fresh, salted, dried or raw in sashimi.
fun facts
- The English name, rainbow runner, comes from the blue and yellow stripes that shine on the live fish.
- Schools tend to gather around logs and other drifting objects.
identification
Elongated, spindle-shaped body with no bony scutes on the lateral line. Olive-blue back, white belly and two thin light-blue stripes on the flank, with a wide olive or yellowish band between them. The dorsal and anal fins end in a detached pinnule of two rays. Yellowish, deeply forked tail. The jacks, the pitangola and the greater amberjack have no blue stripes.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
where found
In Brazil, as far as Rio de Janeiro, mostly in clear water far from the coast, shoals and oceanic islands.
Habitat: Clear water near the surface, over distant reefs and shoals, around oceanic islands and alongside drifting objects (logs, buoys, sargassum).
coast
states
Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro
when to fish
best season
Found year-round in tropical waters; in the Southeast it is more common with the warm, blue water of summer.
best time of day
Daytime. Active by day, most active in the first half of the morning and late afternoon.
what affects the rainbow runner
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
Warm-water fish: it disappears when the water cools or turns green.
atmospheric pressure
Little direct effect; a rough sea after a cold front scatters the schools.
moon
Small effect.
rain
Little effect in open sea.
water level
Not applicable at sea. The equivalent is clear blue water over the shoal.
noise
Engine off near the buoy or the log avoids scaring the school.
wind
Chop helps the popper; strong wind makes it hard to stay over the shoal.
tide
Moderate current over the shoal concentrates bait and fish.
depth
From the surface to about 30 m for most catches.
how to fish
- rod
- jigging PE 2 to 4; popping 7' to 7'6" PE 3 to 5
- spinning / baitcasting reel
- spinning reel 5000 to 8000
- line
- braided line PE 2 to 4 (30 to 50 lb)
- leader
- fluorocarbon 40 to 60 lb, 1.5 to 2 m (sees well in clear water)
- hook
- assist hooks 2/0 to 4/0; circle 3/0 to 5/0 on live bait
lures
- jig of 60 to 150 g with a fast retrieve
- stickbait and popper 10 to 14 cm
- small feather and squid trolling baits
natural baits
- small live fish
- squid strips
accessories
- alicate
- luvas
tip from an angler
Around fish-attracting buoys and drifting objects, drop the jig to midwater and reel in very fast: it chases fast baits.
rules for the rainbow runner
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026). We found no specific federal rule for this species.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Fight it until it tires: revive it with the boat moving slowly, holding the fish with its head in the water, and release it when it swims strongly.
in the kitchen
Light, firm and tasty flesh; good raw (sashimi, ceviche) if very fresh, and also grilled or baked. Ciguatera has been reported in reef areas.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00977, b = 2.84; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana para a subfamília e o formato do corpo, comprimento total)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
- scientific FishBase — Elagatis bipinnulata (ficha da espécie)Names, distribution, biology, length-weight relationship, country list and references. Page checked on October 13, 2026. The maximum weight appears in the record as 17.05 g, a unit error: the source record is 17.05 kg.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026 — Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)Most recent national list. The species is not on it (search by scientific name in the text published in the DOU, checked on October 13, 2026).
- official ICMBio/SALVE — Ficha de Elagatis bipinnulata (avaliação nacional do risco de extinção)National assessment by ICMBio, published in 2023. DOI verified on Crossref.
- scientific IUCN Red List — Elagatis bipinnulata (avaliação global: Pouco Preocupante, LC, 21/08/2012)Global assessment. Link given on the FishBase entry (Red List, version 2025-2).
- scientific Carpenter, K. E. (org.) (2002). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Roma: FAO.Chapter Carangidae (Smith-Vaniz, W. F.).
