It is one of only two representatives of its genus present in the Atlantic Ocean, inhabiting waters off the east coast of the Americas from Massachusetts in the north to Brazil in the south, as well as a number of offshore islands.

The yellow jack can be distinguished from closely related species by the length of the jaw, as well as counts of the rays in the fins.

It is a fairly large fish, growing to a recorded maximum length of 1 metre (39 in), and a weight of at least 14 kilograms (31 lb).

Studies in the Caribbean suggest the species reaches sexual maturity between 23 and 32 centimetres (9.1 and 12.6 in), and spawns in offshore waters from February to October.

Yellow jack are of minor economic importance, taken by both hook and net methods, and are considered to be fair table fish.

[2] The species was first scientifically described by the famed French taxonomist Georges Cuvier in 1833, based on the holotype specimen collected from St. Bartholomew Island in the West Indies.

The dorsal profile of the head is slightly curved from the snout to the nape, with the eye having a moderately well developed adipose eyelid.

The yellow jack is distributed throughout the tropical to subtropical western Atlantic Ocean, ranging on the coast of America from Massachusetts to Maceio, Brazil.

[9] In one case, they were observed following a flying gurnard, itself smaller than the jack, that disturbed the substrate, causing various organisms to be displaced and become available for predation.

[13] Yellow jack are a minor commercial species throughout their range, taken by seines, trawls and hook and line techniques.

[5] Yellow jack are known to be carriers of ciguatera around the West Indies, and are classified as a high risk species, with their predatory nature allowing the toxin to accumulate in their flesh.