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The term kingfish refers to many species of fish, including giant kingfish, barcheek kingfish, and white croaker. These fish can differ drastically in appearance and come from completely different genera, but they are still commonly called kingfish. They can also be found in waters from Japan to Australia and weigh from 10 to over 200 pounds (4.5 to 90 kg). Some of these fish are victims of overfishing; for example, the yellowtail variety was overharvested by Japanese fishing boats near waters around the United States and Mexico. In general, however, none of these fish are in immediate danger of extinction as of 2011.
Also known as the giant trevally, the giant kingfish is relatively large, typically weighing more than 175 pounds (85 kg) and growing up to 5.5 feet (1.7 m) in length. This fish lives in tropical waters, so it is usually fished in Hawaii, the United States and near Australia. Due to its large size, it has few or no predators in many of its habitats and has been known to steal prey from other predators.
The Barcheek Kingfish is significantly smaller than the giant variety, weighing up to a dozen pounds (6 kg) and growing to just 0.5 m in length. This fish is somewhat oval in shape and, like the giant travally, has gray to silvery scales. These fish are also tropical water fish and can move quickly to catch smaller fish for consumption.
The Yellowtail Kingfish, also known as the Yellowtail, is a large fish that is often confused with some species of tuna. They are carnivorous and feed on other fish and other animals in the ocean. These fish can be found in many ocean waters in North America, as well as in Oceania. There is some concern that the yellowtail variety is threatened by overfishing, but it is not currently on the endangered species list. Some people theorize that because they are so active feeding in the spawning season, they are easily spotted by enterprising anglers.
Another carnivorous fish often referred to as the kingfish is the white croaker, known to feed not only on other living marine animals but also dead ones. Although the predominant color of these fish is white, quite solid yellow and black spots are seen on the upper part and on the rear fins. Some hobby anglers find these fish irritating because they are not picky about bait and often bite hooks intended for a different species of fish.