SCIENTIFIC NAME :Seriola dumerili

OTHER NAMES: Jack, Amber fish
RANGE: All Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.

HABITAT: Adults are common at various depths, ranging from reefs several hundred feet deep to fairly shallow wrecks and reefs. Big ones also come close to shore at times, particularly in the Keys and the Islands. Artificial reefs and wrecks all along the Gulf Coast often harbor huge schools of smaller Amberjack, and many Gulf wrecks are home to big ones as well.

DESCRIPTION: Overall brownish or goldish. Heavy body. No scutes forward of tail fin. Dark oblique line through the eye that ends at the dorsal fin.
SIZE: Schools of young fish are common at 5-20 pounds. Average size over deep wrecks and reefs is 30-60 pounds, but 100-pounders are not too rare and the potential maximum exceeds 150 pounds. World record 155 pounds, 10 ounces.

FLORIDA RECORD: 142 pounds.

FOOD VALUE: Excellent, smoked or fresh.

GAME QUALITIES: A strong, punishing fighter that powers deep and defies lifting. Fairly long runs can also occur early in the fight. A great deal of stamina matches their strength. Novices may fight Amberjack of average size for an hour or longer.

TACKLE AND BAITS: Amberjack are most often caught aboard charter boats and party boats on heavy rods and reels with lines testing 50 pounds or more and are no patsies, even then. Experienced light-tackle anglers can successfully battle them with spinning and bait casting rigs, and even fly rods. Around wrecks, they frequently follow hooked fish to boat side, and also may rise to the top voluntarily. Then they can be cast to with surface plugs, spoons, jigs, or big fly rod streamers and poppers. Live chum will also draw Amberjack from the depths. Best bait with heavy tackle is any sort of live fish, the friskier the better.

FISHING TECHNIQUES: Casting; Drifting; Trolling.