Fishing for Amberjack takes a good amount of elbow grease. Strong and stubborn, these fish have truly earned the nickname “reef donkeys.” That may not sound like much of a compliment – but it is! Amberjack are physically designed to barrel up and down the water column, which translates into an incredible workout for anyone holding onto the other end of the line.
Some anglers will tell you it isn’t worth the effort, since these are some of the only bottom fish that don’t taste very good. But others admire their brute force and stamina, which makes targeting Amberjack all about the fight. Of course, there’s only one way to find out for yourself, which is to warm up your forearms and hit the water!
How to Identify Amberjack
Before we get into the fishing itself, it’s worth knowing exactly what these “reef donkeys” are made of. There are several species of Amberjack, but the one most commonly referred to by that name is the Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili).
In the Western Atlantic, their range stretches from Nova Scotia to Brazil. They’re especially popular in the Gulf of Mexico and are iconic nearshore and offshore fishing targets in Florida. Amberjack are also common in the Mediterranean Sea and in far reaches of the Pacific such as Australia, Japan, Hawaii, and South Africa.
As the largest Amberjack species, they grow up to 6 feet long and weigh as much as 200 pounds, though the average fish is somewhere around 40 pounds. Their color ranges from gray to brown, with dark hues along their backs that fade toward their pale bellies. Sometimes you can see a faint yellow line running across their sides, too.
The second dorsal and anal fins on an Amberjack mirror each other, running from the tail to the middle of the fish where they peak like waves. You’ll recognize this style of fin on other Jack species and Trevallies, which are related.
Greater Amberjack vs. Lesser Amberjack
Lesser Amberjack (Seriola fasciata) are confined to the Atlantic, where they inhabit a much smaller range from Massachusetts to Brazil. As the name suggests, they’re smaller than the “Greats,” usually topping no more than 10 pounds. They also feed around nearshore and offshore wrecks or reefs, but will often venture deeper than other Jack species, which is why anglers don’t catch them as often.
Lesser Amberjack look a lot like Greater Amberjack. They might appear shorter, with a “deeper” body and larger eyes but, if you don’t have a Greater Amberjack to compare them to side by side, it can be hard to tell them apart. One thing to look for is the brown stripe both species have running from their nose across their eyes, almost like war paint. This stripe is usually more visible on Lesser Amberjack and does not reach all the way to the first dorsal fin.
Other Jack Species
It’s easy to confuse Greater and Lesser Amberjack with Almaco Jacks (Seriola rivoliana), which also swim in the Atlantic. Whereas Amberjack sport torpedo-shaped bodies, Almaco Jack are smaller and shorter. Perhaps the best giveaway, however, is the peak of their second dorsal fin, which grows noticeably taller than that of an Amberjack.
Another fish in the Western Atlantic related to these is Banded Rudderfish (Seriola zonata). They look much like their Amberjack cousins, only Rudderfish are much lighter in color (usually a pale shade of blue, green, or gray). You’ll often see a yellow stripe running down their sides and notice they have yellow eyes, whereas Amberjack have brown eyes. Lastly, take a look at the tail on a Rudderfish. You’ll notice the tips are white, which may also be the case with their anal and rear dorsal fins.
If you happen to find yourself fishing in southern Australia, it’s worth knowing about Samson Fish (Seriola hippos). That “hippo” in the Latin name is a big tip – these are one of the big boys in the Amberjack family! Samson Fish can reach over 130 pounds, though you’re most likely to catch one in the 30–40-pound range. They look pretty much like a regular Amberjack swimming around the same parts, except for the steep profile of their foreheads, along with their deep, thick bodies.
Yellowtail Amberjack
There’s one more very important member of the family: Yellowtail Amberjack (Seriola Lalandi). Unlike their cousins, these fish reign supreme across the Southern Hemisphere and parts of the North Pacific. They’re one of the top sport fish in Australia and New Zealand, where anglers know them as “Kingfish.” In Southern California, locals refer to these fish simply as “Yellowtail.”
Yellowtail Amberjack typically grow about 3 feet long and weigh 10–40 pounds, but they’re capable of growing as large as 8 feet and over 200 pounds. Yellowtail are easy to distinguish from Greater Amberjack due to their bright yellow tails and fins. At first glance, you may confuse them with Rainbow Runners, which also cruise the world’s tropical waters. Rather than sporting a yellow stripe, however, Rainbow Runners have blue stripes running down their sides.
The list goes on, but other Jack species become so obscure that you’re not likely to come face-to-face with any on an average fishing trip. These include Fortune Jack, Japanese Amberjack, and Guinean Amberjack, among others.
Best Amberjack Fishing Spots
Phew! So, you know what an Amberjack is (and what it’s not). But where are you going to catch one? As the main species of interest from the family in North America, let’s zero in on Greater Amberjack and some of the top fishing spots for them.
Destin, FL
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the best places in the world to fish for Amberjack. And arguably no state revels in that more than Florida. We’re coming right out of the gate here with Destin. Known for its quick access to deep waters and many reefs, a charter out of this Panhandle epicenter will have you fishing for Amberjack just 15 miles from shore.
The best months to target this fish are April and May, as well as the transition from summer to fall between August, September, and October. Just keep in mind that you can’t always keep your catch. The open season in Florida’s Gulf waters runs from September 1–October 31, with a bag limit of one fish per person. There’s also a minimum size limit of 34 inches in fork length.
Key West, FL
There’s probably no place situated for better fishing than Key West. This tail end of the continental US gives you access to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, so take your pick and gear up for some world-class reef donkey action. Numerous shipwrecks make the nearshore waters rife with Amberjack, especially during spring and fall.
Don’t limit yourself to Key West, though. You can expect great Amberjack fishing from Marathon, too – or really, anywhere along the Keys! It’s so hard to go wrong when you fish in this part of Florida.
Jupiter, FL
Yep, we’re still talking about Florida – but, at least we can say we moved on from the Gulf! Amberjack abound on the Atlantic coast, and there’s no shortage of seaside towns where you can hop aboard a charter boat to go after them. Jupiter and West Palm Beach are a couple of go-to spots, given their renowned reef systems. Like in the Gulf, Amberjack here are most accessible in spring and fall.
Anglers fishing for Amberjack in Florida’s Atlantic waters are allowed to take home one fish during most of the year, with the exception of a closed season in April. The minimum fork length is 28 inches.
Wanchese, NC
We’re finally out of Florida as we make our way up to the Tar Heel State. With so many deep sea fishing charters to choose from, it’s hard to recommend one go-to port in North Carolina.
However, for access to wrecks and reefs, you generally want to aim for the Outer Banks or the Oregon Inlet that splices right through them. That’s why Wanchese is our top pick. It puts you smack dab in the middle of it all! But, any town that bookends the OBX is bound to offer great fishing for Amberjack, where the peak season is usually in May or June.
Amberjack regulations in North Carolina are the same as in other south Atlantic waters. These allow anglers to keep one fish with a minimum fork length of 28 inches between May 1 and March 31. There’s a closed season in April.
Virginia Beach, VA
Amberjack grace Virginia’s waters around June and, just like a sweltering summer, the fishing for them is hot, hot, hot! July tends to mark the peak season, which fizzles out by the end of September. Virginia Beach is our top recommendation, giving you access to local fishing grounds such as Chesapeake Light Tower and wrecks like the Gulf Hustler.
Virginia’s Amberjack regulations allow anglers to keep two fish that measure 32 inches or more.
How to Fish for Amberjack
Amberjack mainly hunt around wrecks and reefs, so you probably guessed by now that the best way to target them is using a bottom fishing technique. When fishing in really deep water, you may coax these fish toward the surface by chumming and then casting topwater lures to them.
Bottom Fishing
This is a rather general term that could mean drifting your bait over the target zone, or using a weighted rig that sits stationary on the seafloor (known by some anglers as “plunking”). It’s the most passive approach to Amberjack fishing, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less effective.
Jigging
This involves dropping a metal jig (which could be baited) to the seafloor and jerking it up and down to mimic injured prey. The boat will be stationary but you can expect your arms to get a good workout.
Trolling
As a surface-fishing technique, trolling isn’t usually the go-to method for Amberjack. However, this can work well around wrecks, reefs, and oil rigs, especially if you work up a chum slick first. Once you grab the fish’s attention, troll the surface using baits, jigs, or spoons. They’ll then attack topwater lures explosively.
Amberjack Fishing Gear
There’s no need to get fancy with your setup when targeting Amberjack. You can rely on conventional saltwater gear and a 50 lb braided or 100 lb mono line. Due to the fighting power of these fish and their tendency to dive down into the reefs, you should choose a rod that’s 6 feet or less to help you apply more leverage. Pair it with a reel that includes a drag setting over 25 pounds.
Amberjack don’t have teeth, so you won’t need to add a wire leader – although, snagging on rocks, wrecks, and reefs is a concern. If you do use one, it should be no longer than 6 feet and you probably want to opt for 100 lb test. Rigging will be simple in this case – just attach your sinker to one end and your main line to the other.
Bait & Lures
Amberjack aren’t picky, so you can utilize a wide variety of bait fish. The most common choices include pinfish, cigar minnows, grunts, menhaden, sardines, and squid.
They also go after metal jigs without hesitation. If you chum them to the surface, they’ll take topwater and subsurface lures that resemble fish, such as plastics, jerkbaits, and spoons.
All in all, enticing a bite won’t be the hard part of catching these fish – it’s reeling the darn things in!
When to Catch Amberjack
Greater Amberjack spawn in spring, which marks the beginning of the fishing season for them. In the Gulf of Mexico, peak months include April and May, as well as August, September, and October.
On the East Coast, the Amberjack season starts slightly later than this, usually in May or June, and wanes by the end of September.
If you’re planning to fish for Amberjack in the Southern Hemisphere, the spring spawning season will be the inverse of this, beginning around September.
Remember, though, no matter where you’re fishing, pay attention to local regulations. It’s important to know when the legal Amberjack season opens and closes so you can fish legally.
Amberjack: A Worthy Adversary
They may not be the first game fish you think of, and they’re certainly not the first fish you plan on bringing home for dinner, but Amberjack have earned their place in sportfishing circles.
No matter where you catch them, they promise to pull hard and are sure to have you doubling over the side of the boat as you reel them in. Perhaps the Australian name “Kingfish” is appropriate. After all, an Amberjack will indeed make you bow down!
Have you ever targeted Amberjack? What’s your favored technique? Maybe you have a hotspot to recommend? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post How to Go Amberjack Fishing: The Complete Guide for 2024 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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