Greater Amberjack

Species Information

Scientific Name:	Seriola dumerili
Common Names:	amberjack, AJs, reefdonkey, reef donkey
Environment:	Nearshore, Offshore
Ideal Temp:	65-75°F (18-23°C)

About Greater Amberjack

The greater amberjack is a jack of the genus Seriola. It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian coasts. It is the largest genus in the Carangidae family. It is a fast-swimming pelagic fish with similar habits to the kingfish. 

The greater amberjack often have a distinctive olive colored bar from the snout through the eye, to the beginning of the dorsal fin and a broad amber colored stripe running horizontally along the flanks. The amber stripe often causes anglers to confuse this species with the yellowtails. However, the greater amberjack can be distinguished from other related species by the gill raker count; greater amberjack over 8 inches long have only 11 16 developed gill rakers on the lower limb of the first branchial arch (the count may be higher in smaller specimens), whereas yellowtails have 21 28.

Greater amberjack are an offshore species associated with rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks.  They are typically in 60 - 240 feet of water and sometimes caught nearshore.  Juveniles are associated with floating objects and may occur in water less than 30 feet deep.

The greater amberjack is a powerful hunter which feeds on other fish and invertebrates. The greater amberjack is prized by sports fisherman because it is a very powerful fish and can be quite large, even as much as 70 kg. It is an excellent eating fish. It is also a big-game fish and are one of the greatest fighting fish pound for pound.

It strikes fast, fights hard and often dives for the bottom. Fishing methods include trolling near the surface with lures, spoons, plugs, jigs or strip baits, and also live bait fishing. Many incidental catches of amberjack are made while fishing the bottom for snappers and groupers.

Greater Amberjack Fishing

World Record:	71.15 kg (156 lb 13 oz) Iki Island, Nagasaki, Japan
# Fish Caught:	86919 documented in database.
Earliest Record:	1/1/1830 12:00:00 AM and located at 27.83860, -97.04419.
Latest Record:	6/30/2024 6:29:49 AM and located at 35.22016, -75.69362.
Common Techniques:	Bottom Fishing, Casting, Chunking, Jigging
Popular Lure Types:	Bottom Rig, Jigs, Plugs, Spoons
Fishing Spots:	1841 Greater Amberjack fishing spots.

Latest Greater Amberjack Fishing Reports and Spots

October 7 All Day “Wreck/Bottom/Live Fishing “ - 10/20/2024 2:14:41 PM

Amberjack Triggerfish (Gray) Trip Summary Caught some Amberjacks live bait fishing and caught a few Triggerfish Bottom Fishing…Ocean was greasy (View)

October 12 All Day “Wreck/Bottom/Live Bait Fishing Trip” - 10/21/2024 8:31:51 AM

Amberjack Seabass (Black) Triggerfish (Gray) King Mackerel (Kingfish) Trip Summary Had a buffet of stuff today. Caught some Amberjacks live bai (View)

October 16 All Day Inshore Trip - 10/21/2024 9:30:43 AM

Bluefish Amberjack King Mackerel (Kingfish) Little Tunny (False Albacore) Trip Summary Well it was blowing about 20 knots gusting to 25 outta t (View)

October - 10/18/2024 4:56:42 PM

Body:  The bluefish are biting like crazy inshore! Seeing a good drum bite too and still some nice sheepshead around. Offshore and wreck fishin (View)

OPEN DATES OCT.6 THRU OCT.12 - 10/5/2024 11:12:16 AM

Amberjack King Mackerel (Kingfish) Seabass (Black) Bluefish Little Tunny (False Albacore) Redfish Spanish Mackerel Triggerfish (Gray) Trip Summ (View)

Sept. 25 All Day Live Bait/ Bottom Fishing Trip - 9/29/2024 7:42:03 AM

Jack (Almaco) Amberjack Bluefish Seabass (Black) Triggerfish (Gray) Trip Summary Well …after setting to the dock for 9 straight days due to wea (View)

August 13 thru August 29 Catch up report - 9/5/2024 4:45:15 PM

Amberjack Triggerfish (Gray) Seabass (Black) Spanish Mackerel Bluefish Trip Summary Well to make a long story short….Bottom fishing for Seabass (View)

UPCOMING OPEN DATES - 9/7/2024 9:42:12 AM

Amberjack Seabass (Black) Bluefish Little Tunny (False Albacore) Spanish Mackerel Redfish Triggerfish (Gray) Trip Summary Here are our OPENINGS (View)

Sept.9 All Day Wreck/Bottom Fishing/Live Baiting trip - 9/11/2024 9:18:22 PM

Little Tunny (False Albacore) Amberjack Bluefish Triggerfish (Gray) Trip Summary Wow these guys were “Vikings” fore it was ever more rough. Cau (View)

Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 06 September 2024 🎣 - 6/9/2024 8:21:00 PM

96 Recfishwest Newsletter View this email in your browser Recfishwest Fishing Report 06/09/24 Troutfest returns this Saturday 7 September to Dr (View)