The yellowtail horse mackerel (Trachurus novaezelandiae), also known as yakka,[2] is a jack in the family Carangidae found around Australia and New Zealand at depths to 500 m. Its length is up to 50 centimetres (20 in).

Nine to 16 faint grey bars run vertically on the sides of the fish, as well as a black spot slightly smaller than the eye on the upper margin of the operculum and adjacent shoulder region.

[citation needed] In some parts of Australia, the Yakka are prone to the parasite Cymothoa exigua which first eats and then replaces the tongue of the host fish.

Adults are normally recorded over rocky reefs just offshore while the juveniles prefer waters with shallow, soft substrates.

[citation needed] The yellowtail scad is a pelagic predator that takes a variety of small plankton and fish.