Pampus echinogaster was a carnivore and its major food items were crustaceans, hydromedusae, salps, Sagitta, and fish. Larvae and small juveniles preyed heavily on copepods. However, the portion of the diet attributable to copepods was decreased with increasing size, and this decrease was paralleled by an increased consumption of hydromedusae, salps, Sagitta, and fish.