Amberjack

Interesting Info

• The Amberjack is the largest of the amberjacks, a powerful, torpedo-shaped fish built for speed and long chases in the open sea.
• It can grow up to 190 cm (6.2 ft) and weigh over 80 kg (176 lb), though most caught are much smaller.
• In Australia it ranges widely—from Perth in Western Australia, across the tropical north, into Queensland, and down the east coast through New South Wales and Victoria, reaching eastern Tasmania. It is also found off Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.
• Worldwide it has a circumglobal range in warm seas of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, including the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
• Amberjacks have a bluish-grey back, silver sides, and a golden-brown stripe running from the snout through the eye to the tail.
• Juveniles sometimes school near floating debris or reefs, while adults prefer deeper reefs, wrecks, and offshore drop-offs.
• They are top predators, feeding on mackerel, squid, cuttlefish, and other schooling fish, often hunting in fast bursts.
• Divers and snorkellers sometimes see them patrolling deep reef slopes or circling wrecks in the company of other large predatory fish.
• Amberjack are famous among sport fishers for their raw power, often making blistering runs that test even heavy tackle.
• Spawning happens offshore in deep water during warmer months, with eggs and larvae drifting in the plankton.
• They grow quickly and are thought to live up to 15–17 years, longer than many other carangids.
• Amberjack often mix with related species like Yellowtail Kingfish, but their larger size and deeper body set them apart.