feeding mode; no scutes; soft dorsal base less than twice the length of the anal fin
base. Similar Fish: other Seriola.
Where found: OFFSHORE species associated with rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks, typically in 60 - 240 feet of water; sometimes caught NEARSHORE in south Florida; juveniles associated with floating objects and may occur in water less than 30 feet deep.
Size: common to 40 pounds. Florida Record: 142 lbs.
Remarks: largest of the jacks; thought to spawn OFFSHORE throughout most of the year; feeds on squid, fish, and crustaceans.
Photo: This fish weighed 80 lbs. and was caught in 80 feet of water on live shrimp and twenty pound spinning tackle. I do not usually fish for large amberjacks with live shrimp but things happen. On a beautiful December morning with a flat glassy sea and a bait tank full of live grunts and bluefish, I took a party out eighteen miles to a wreck called the Barge to fish for AJs averaging about 50 lbs. As we approached the wreck, we could see a lot of commotion on the surface. The water was crystal clear and as we drifted over the wreck, we could see a school of small tunny (about 4 lbs.) being inhaled by 80 and 100 pound amberjacks. This made my grunts look very small. I told one of the men too throughout a live shrimp to catch a tunny for bait, while I got the rods ready. BAM!