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fishing forecast

bluntnose jack

Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus · Carangidae · predator

Coastal jack of the western Atlantic, from the Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil, sold fresh and with little commercial use.

Also called: palombeta, xaréu-de-focinho-romo, chicharra, jurelito chato, bluntnose jack

Scientific illustration of Bluntnose jack
maximum
50 cm
location

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period

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the species

everything about the bluntnose jack

overview

who is the bluntnose jack

The round-snout jack, also called palombeta, belongs to the family Carangidae and reaches 50 cm. It is coastal and lives on the continental shelf, usually without forming large schools. Juveniles enter brackish estuaries and, as they grow, move to deeper bottoms, not beyond 50 m. Spawning usually occurs in summer, and the eggs are pelagic. It is sold fresh at market.

Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the bluntnose jack; in the meantime, see the similar species.

fun facts

  • Juveniles enter brackish estuaries.
how to recognize it

identification

Fusiform body, with a rounded, blunt snout, the trait that gives the species its name and helps set it apart from other jacks in the region. Adults live near the coast and do not form large schools, and juveniles are found in brackish estuaries. It is also called palombeta, a name used for another species, Chloroscombrus chrysurus.

distribution

where found

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It occurs from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, mostly in coastal waters.

Habitat: Coastal shelf waters, down to 50 m, with juveniles in estuaries.

coast

North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf
what the law says

rules for the bluntnose jack

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 Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).

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.

No danger to anglers. The fin spines call for care when handling.

in the kitchen

Sold fresh at market.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01318, b = 2.96; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.

  1. scientific FishBase: Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Hemicaranx amblyrhynchusNames by country and language.
  3. 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)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
don't confuse

similar species