The bar jack has a fusiform, laterally compressed body perfectly adapted for fast swimming in open water and active hunting. As an adult, it generally measures around 20 inches in length but can reach a maximum size of 29 inches and a weight exceeding 17.5 lbs for the largest individuals.

The bar jack is distinguished by its silvery coloration with a bluish stripe along its back as well as a characteristic black stripe extending to the lower tip of its caudal fin, making it easily identifiable in its natural environment.

The bar jack is mainly found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic ocean, from the coasts of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean, particularly around Guadeloupe, and the northern coasts of South America.

The bar jack inhabits a variety of coastal environments. It is mainly found around coral reefs, seagrass beds, lagoons, and shallow coastal waters, but it can also be observed in open water or near reef structures where it actively hunts.

The bar jack is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and benthic organisms, which it captures thanks to its speed.

The bar jack is an oviparous species. Eggs and larvae are planktonic and drift with ocean currents before juveniles move into shallow coastal areas where they find food and protection.

Growth is relatively rapid, and sexual maturity is reached after a few years, allowing the species to maintain stable populations despite fishing pressure in certain regions.

The bar jack is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The bar jack appears in the IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !