The Many Ways Anglers Can Catch a Big Amberjack

I wasn’t necessarily trying to show off, but when you take the family on their first offshore trip after years of trying to make them understand how cool it is, you need a strong opening act. When the captain slid over a wreck in 120 feet of water, and pointed to a bunch of sizable arches marking above the structure on the sonar screen, I thought: “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

While our charter captain dropped a 4-ounce jig with a large paddletail, I sent a big bucktail jig with a curly tail toward the wreck guardians. We both began the sharp rod twitches and within seconds of one another, we came tight on a couple stout amberjack. My crew was pretty impressed by two whopper fish slapping the deck, but showing them my bucktail hook — bent outward about 45 degrees — cemented to appeal.

Nothing fancy about amberjack, but these deep-water brutes are remarkably accommodating. From live baits to flies, these fish will grab whatever you offer and give you all you want. Along with wrecks, you’ll also find these brutes patrolling deep-water reefs and springs. Structure-oriented fish, AJs tend to hover over the hard stuff and pick off whatever forage crosses their radar.

Like It Live

Pure gluttons with indiscriminate palates, amberjack will blast any baitfish or reef runt they can catch. You’ll occasionally hear of folks catching AJs on dead sardines or squid meant for grouper and snapper, but a live bait’s flash and dash typically outperforms.

Hook a jumbo pinfish, blue runner, grunt, mullet or bluefish on a standard slip sinker rig and send it into the strike zone. (Use enough weight for the depth and sea conditions and deploy at an angle sufficient to reach the fish in the day’s current.) Most baits will never reach the bottom, but if one slips by the amberjack, simply give it 10-20 cranks and bring it back into focus.

If barracuda pick off too many livies, try trolling your bait into AJ land. Start about 50 yards from the spot, deploy your live baits on downriggers set below the depth at which you’ve marked the ‘cuda level and slip your offerings under the toothy ones.

Another option — freeline those live baits. Pinfish and blue runners tend to swim down, but you’ll still benefit from coaxing the AJs topside. On calm, sunny days, live chummers won’t go unnoticed — even by fish 100 feet or more beneath the surface. Just make sure you have plenty of ammo, as you’ll need keep the freebies going until those dark shadows come into view.

Also, nothing says mealtime like the sound of struggling prey. Beating the surface with a rod tip imitates splashing bait schools and the big brown bullies know that means easy pickings at the edge of the playing field. Moreover, bringing a hooked fish topside almost invariably brings gluttonous schoolmates to the surface so keep a pitch bait handy for targets of opportunity.

Artificials

Jigs of multiple forms play a significant role in the AJ game. The old-school diamond jig holds perennial appeal, while zippy presentations with the slender “blade” styles like Shimano’s butterfly jig with single or twin hook harnesses dependably deliver.

For more of a darting, gliding look, the slow-pitch jigging craze offers a variety of lengths and shapes to show AJs various baitfish mimicking looks. Experiment with different colors and profiles and you’ll determine a replicable preference.

Now, there’s no such thing as a subtle amberjack bite, but if you want a double dose of unbridled aggression, a big surface popper will red line the AJ’s inner beast. Obviously a tactic reserved for fish that have already headed topside in response to chumming efforts, or those that have followed a hooked fish to the top, this technique will deliver those highlight reel moments we talk about years after their occurrence.

With a heavy-action spinning outfit, fling a big plug off the stern, rip it with a series of vigorous pops and then let it sit for a few seconds. Repeat as needed to draw that water frothing bite.

Another cool way to entice surface-oriented AJs, a 10-weight rod and a chartreuse streamer fly usually gets the job done. You’ll rarely need to make anything more than simple roll casts, but be ready to strike hard and get your stripping hand clear, lest a fleeing AJ leave you with a nasty burn blister.

Fight Right

If a fish shakes your live bait, free-spool to pay out a few feet of line and get ready for the follow-up bite. Same thing with artificials — a smack and a miss just means someone else is about to take their shot.

Amberjack typically swim in schools, so take advantage of the natural feeding competition to ensure your hook up.

However you hook your AJ, you’re in for a straight-up street fight with a doublet-tough opponent that defines endurance. When the fish comes tight, pour the coals to him and do not ever, ever let up.

Good thing about amberjack is their distinctive rubbery rips rarely yield a hook, so there’s zero reason to take it easy. Separating a fish from any nearby structure is Job 1. After that, keep the rod bend, gather line in short, measured bursts and let the fish run when it feels the need for a burst.

A fighting harness or a cushioning attachment like the Luna Sea Cush-it Slip-On Rod Butt will facilitate the fight and minimize rod bruising, but make no mistake — this is hand-to-hand combat that only ends in your favor when your will outlasts the AJ’s.

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