Amberjack

The Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) is the largest member of the jack family Carangidae found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Mediterranean waters. It is a robust, deep-bodied predator commonly associated with reefs, wrecks, and offshore structure, and is one of the most sought-after structure-oriented game fish. Amberjack are closely related to other Seriola species such as the yellowtail and lesser amberjack, with which they can be confused. Populations are managed in several fisheries due to susceptibility to overfishing around aggregation sites.

Key field marks:

• Deep, elongated, spindle-shaped body
• Bronze to amber-brown back fading to silvery sides and white belly
• Dark diagonal bar running from the snout through the eye
• Small second dorsal and anal fins with a low, elongated base
• Forked tail with no scutes along the caudal peduncle
• Lacks the strongly forked finlets seen in tunas Amberjack are distinguished from similar Seriola species by body depth, the exact position of the eye stripe, and overall size, with Greater Amberjack reaching the largest maximum length.

Amberjack inhabit warm temperate to tropical waters worldwide, typically found around reefs, rocky ledges, wrecks, and offshore structure at depths from near the surface to over 100 meters. Adults favor deeper structure and open water over such habitat, while juveniles often shelter near floating debris or in shallower nearshore areas. Their range spans the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Indo-Pacific. Amberjack tolerate a range of temperatures but are most common in warmer waters, moving to deeper or more southerly habitat during colder months.

Amberjack are strong, aggressive predators that often form loose aggregations around wrecks, reefs, and other structure, ambushing schools of baitfish, squid, and crustaceans. They are known for powerful, prolonged fights when hooked, using their deep body and strength to dive back toward structure. Spawning occurs offshore in warmer months, with pelagic eggs and larvae dispersing before juveniles settle near structure or drifting debris. As mid-level predators associated with reef and wreck ecosystems, Amberjack help regulate baitfish populations and are themselves preyed upon by larger sharks.