Where to find greater amberjack
The deep wrecks (the Eagle, the Alexander Barge, the Duane and Bibb), the deep ledges on the reef edge and the humps, in 90–300 ft. They stack up over the structure and rise through the water column to feed.
- Eagle wreck · Wrecks
- Crocker Wall · Reef
- Islamorada Hump · Offshore
- 409 Hump · Offshore
When to go
Year-round, peaking in winter and early spring over the wrecks and humps. April is closed to harvest; the fishing is still good for catch and release. A moving current stacks the fish over the structure.
Best window on the day: The day's solunar major and minor periods between an hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset. Today's window and score are on the conditions page.
How to catch them
Drop a live speedo, pinfish or blue runner on a heavy knocker rig to just above the structure, or work a 200–400 g vertical jig through the marks. Lock the drag and lift hard at once; let the fish get its head down and it will cut you off. Reef fish gear rules apply.
Bait & tackle
- Bait
- Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, pinfish or grunts dropped down to the wreck
- Lures
- Vertical (speed) jigs of 6–10 oz; big bucktails
- Tackle
- Heavy 50–80 lb conventional or jigging outfit, 65–80 lb braid
- Rig
- 6 ft of 80–100 lb fluorocarbon; 7/0–9/0 non-stainless circle hook with live bait; 8–16 oz sinker
Tips for your level
- Brace your legs, keep the rod butt low and pump the fish up in short strokes; let the rod do the lifting.
- A fish released from deep water needs a descending device; the captain will have one rigged.
- Take turns on a stacked-up wreck: three amberjack in a row will finish most arms.
Keeping one
Decent when bled and iced, smoked or grilled; many anglers release them. Check for worms in the tail section of larger fish.
Keep only what you will eat, within the limit, and release the rest in the water where you can.
Questions anglers ask
- How big are amberjack in Islamorada?
- Most are 20–50 lb; fish over 80 lb come off the deep wrecks and humps every year.