Blackbanded Amberjack

Interesting Info

• The Blackbanded Amberjack is a sleek jack with dark angled bands fading from its silvery-blue back.
• In Australia, it’s been recorded from Shark Bay in Western Australia around to Tuncurry in New South Wales, though it’s still quite rare.
• Globally it spans the Indo–West Pacific—from the Red Sea and East African coast, through northern Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Micronesia, and even Southeast Atlantic off South Africa.
• They live offshore on continental shelf reefs and rocky bottoms, usually found between 20 and 150 m (65–490 ft) deep.
• Juveniles often hide under floating weed rafts, logs, and even jellyfish bells, using shade to stay safe.
• Adults are usually solitary and don’t school—spot one patrolling near reef slopes and you’ve found a rare sight.
• They’re strong hunters, gobbling up bottom dwelling fish, squid, and shrimp.
• Their deep, muscular body and forked tail make them fast—built for quick ambushes over reefs.
• The name nigrofasciata means “black-banded,” named for those bands that stand out on younger fish.
• Young fish wear bold diagonal stripes, but these tend to fade as they get older.
• They’re considered great eating—think firm, tasty fillets and are sold fresh or dried in some places.
• Like other jacks, they help keep reef ecosystems in balance by eating mid-level predators and critters.