Amberjack
name: Amberjack
other names: Amber Jack, Amberfish, Jackhammer, Horse-Eye Bonito, Horse-Eye Jack
The fish's back can be green/brown or sometimes purple. These colors will end at the lateral line where the silver belly begins. There is a prominent, amber band that runs horizontally across the fish's side. This band will disappear after death. The greater amberjack is one of the giants of the jack family and may reach one hundred and seventy pounds, at a length of more than five feet. Greater amberjacks are not prone to schooling and prowl around rigs in waters generally over 150 feet. Small fish average 10 lbs. or more, but they grow to well over 100 pounds, with a fish of 80 pounds or more considered large.
Greater amberjack are found, from near shore waters out to depths of 300 feet and occasionally deeper. Greater amberjacks are usually found near reefs, wrecks, artificial reefs, and in the northern Gulf of Mexico, offshore oil and gas platforms.
Amberjack eat a diet that is very typical of a deepwater, structure-holding fish. Greater amberjacks are aggressive predator fish that prowl the water column near obstructions from the surface to the bottom, although they spend much of their time in the upper water column. They may occur singly or in small groups, feeding on a wide variety of fish, including herring, scads and little tunny. Crabs and squid are taken as well.
Amberjacks are most commonly caught weighing 15 to 40 pounds. They can grow much larger, attaining lengths over five feet. The larger fish are usually females, as research indicates that males may not live much beyond 7 years of age, while females can live to 15. Both sexes grow at the same rate and are old enough to spawn at 2 to 3 years of age.
Ambers can be caught by trolling near the surface with lures, plugs, jigs, spoons or strip baits. Live bait such as mullet, grunts or other small fishes are also very effective. These fish can also be chummed into a frenzy and casted to with medium to heavy spin, cast or fly tackle. The jack strikes fast, they are a hard fighter and are known for diving to the bottom. A big amberjack will test even the best of anglers and only the strongest tackle will land these fish. If you are expecting to catch amberjack to over 50lbs your tackle must be at least 50lbs class Amberjacks school on the reefs throughout the summer. The largest, and one of the hardest fighting members of the jack family, the greater amberjack is a schooling fish that moves onto the reefs in late spring.
