Indo-West Pacific: coastal waters from Pakistan to Sri Lanka; east coast of India, Taiwan Island, Okinawa in Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Records from South Africa, as Caranx kalla, are based on misidentifications of Alepes djedaba.

Found inshore and in coastal waters throughout its range. Feed mainly on planktonic crustaceans and larval fishes. Marketed fresh and dried salted.