Bludger (Carangoides gymnostethus)

Scientific name: Carangoides gymnostethus Cuvier, 1833

The Bludger (Carangoides gymnostethus) is a marine fish of the family Carangidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Recently reported from Tonga.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 25 - 26. Resembles C. fulvoguttatus, but can be distinguished by the naked area of the breast extending up to the pectoral fin base, and the tip of the upper jaw located almost on a level with the lower margin of the eye. The spots on the sides are fewer than in C. fulvoguttatus. Attains 70 cm in SL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Carangoides gymnostethus
Family: Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 90.0
Common length: 90.0
Environment: Marine; reef-associated
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Recently reported from Tonga.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026