The blue trevally is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and central Pacific regions, ranging from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east.

It is a moderately large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 70 cm, with the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and the colouring serving as diagnostic features of the species.

[4] He named the species Scomber ferdau, thus relating it to the mackerels before the family Carangidae was bought into existence with the creation of Lacépède's genus Caranx.

[5] The blue trevally is a moderately large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 70 cm and a weight of 8 kg.

[7] The lateral line has a gentle anterior arch, with the junction of the curved and straight sections vertically below the 15th to 20th soft rays of the second dorsal fin.

[9] It ranges from South Africa in the west, north along the East African coast to the Red Sea and across to India and Southeast Asia.

The species ranges south to Australia and Indonesia, and as far as Japan, Hawaii, and a number of Pacific islands, including Micronesia, New Caledonia, and Tonga.

[2] The blue trevally inhabits coastal waters to a depth of 60 m, over reefs, beaches,[10] lagoons, and areas with sandy substrates.

[6] In South Africa, it is considered a popular gamefish, and is often taken by anglers using various small baits, with the best catches had at dawn and dusk.