How To Catch Amberjack

1. Bottom Fishing

Since amberjacks are bottom feeders, you want to use the bottom fishing technique to catch them. Drop your line to the bottom of the water where you found structures and wait for bites. When you get bites, hook the fish and reel it in. You want to reel amberjacks to the surface as fast as possible as sharks are attracted to struggling amberjacks and will come to get it if you don’t get the amberjack into your boat quickly.

2. Trolling

Trolling is another fishing technique used by anglers to catch amberjacks. When trolling, you move the boat slowly and drop your line with the bait behind the boat. You want the live bait to remain alive for as long as possible. Therefore a slow speed is very important. As the boat moves, the bait moves behind the boat and will attract the attention of fish like amberjack. Use live bait like squid and small fish when trolling.

3. Jigging

Jigging is another fishing technique that can be used to catch amberjack. When jigging for amberjack, you drop your line with the bait deep down towards the bottom as amberjack is a bottom dweller. Then slowly bring your line up from the bottom and then regularly pull hard on the line to get the line and bait to jerk upward. This action will get the attention of fish nearby and it is called vertical jigging.

Amberjack Tackle

Amberjack is a large and powerful fish that will fight very hard when hooked to break the line. As a result, you need a very strong line that can withstand the punishment it will take from an amberjack.

Depending on your fishing style and techniques, you can use a conventional or spinning reel. The fishing rod should support lines that can carry 60 to 80-pound lines. Use braided or monofilament lines as the counter pull from the fish can break the fishing line.

How To Catch Amberjack In The Gulf

Amberjacks eat anything they can get. Shrimp, crabs, squid, small fish, and crustaceans can be used as bait. They are often found around structures such as wrecks, reefs, and oil rigs. When fishing for Amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico, bottom fishing, jigging, and trolling are some of the fishing methods often used.

When you find structures or spot jacks on your fish finder, drop your line to the bottom or to the depth where they are located and wait for a bite. When trolling, anglers will set the line at the back of the boat and as the boat moves, the bait will move through the water. This will get the attention of the fish and might encourage it to go for the bait.

How To Catch Amberjack In Texas

Amberjacks are usually found around reefs, oil platforms, and shipwrecks. A fish finder is often used by anglers to find areas where Amberjacks may be hanging out. Squid, crabs, small fish, and shrimp are baits that are used when fishing for jacks.

Most anglers use trolling, bottom fishing, or jigging when fishing for Amberjacks. Both bait and lures can be used when fishing for Amberjacks.

How To Catch Amberjack In Louisiana

In Louisiana, Amberjacks can be found near artificial reefs, oil platforms, shipwrecks, and other structures. They hang around those structures as they wait to ambush their prey. Squid, shrimp, small fish, crabs, and other crustaceans are what they feed on.

When you see any of these structures, drop your bait close to them to entice Amberjacks to bite. Trolling, jigging, and bottom fishing are some of the fishing methods used when fishing for Amberjacks.

How To Catch Amberjack In Pensacola

Amberjacks are often found around structures like shipwrecks, oil platforms, and artificial reefs. Look for these structures on your fish finder. After spotting some, drop your bait very close to them to get a bite from amberjacks. Amberjacks are aggressive and a good presentation increases your chances of getting a bite.

Additionally, bait and lures can be used when fishing for amberjacks, although live bait works the best. Shrimp, crabs, squid, and small fish are often used when fishing for amberjacks in Pensacola. Bottom fishing, trolling, and jigging are some of the fishing methods often used by anglers.

How To Catch Amberjack From Shore

When fishing for amberjack from the shore, it is good to look for areas with an elevation that you can fish from. Study the water to find any areas where amberjacks may be found. A castable fish finder can help you when fishing from the shore. Drop your bait into the water and let it hit the bottom. Then jig it a little to entice the fish to go for a bite. You may catch other fish as well.

Small baitfish, crabs, shrimp, and squid can be used when fishing for amberjack from the shore. Lures can also be used. Bottom fishing, trolling, and jigging are fishing methods often used to catch amberjack.

Best Amberjack Bait

1. Squid

Squid works well as bait for amberjack and most fish. it is used by many anglers as bait when fishing.

2. Shrimp

Shrim is an effective bait for amberjack.

3. Small crabs

Small crabs are great for targeting amberjack.

4. Pinfish

Pinfish works well as bait when fishing for many fish including amberjack.

5. Mackerel

When fishing for amberjack, mackerel is used as bait.

6. Blue Runner

Blue Runner works well as bait for larger fish like amberjacks.

7. Sardines

When you are learning how to catch amberjack, remember that sardines, cigar minnows, mullets, blue runners, and menhaden are excellent bait for amberjack.

8. Octopus

Octopus also works well as bait when fishing for amberjack.

9. Cigar Minnows

Cigar minnows are a great bait for targeting amberjack.

10. Mullet

Mullet works very well as bait for amberjack.

11. Menhaden

Menhaden, sardines, mullets, and cigar minnows are excellent baits when fishing for amberjack.

Best Amberjack Lures

1. Metal Jigs

Metal jigs work well as lures for amberjack.

2. Spoons

Spoons work well when trolling for amberjack.

3. Jerkbaits

Jerkbaits, spoons, and plastics work well as lures for targeting amberjack.

4. Plastics

When you are learning how to catch amberjack, remember that plastics, spoons, and jerk baits work well when you implement chumming near the surface, amberjack will go after spoons, jerk baits, plastics, and topwater lures.

How To Catch Amberjack From Shore

When fishing for amberjack from the shore, look for any structures and send your line down to get bites from amberjacks. When you get a bite, reel in the fish quickly. A spinning reel is a good option when fishing from the shore to help quickly reel in the fish.

Amberjack Fishing Tips

1. Live bait is the best bait to use when fishing for amberjacks.

2. Amberjacks can be found around structures like reefs, shipwrecks, and oil rigs.

3. Amberjacks are bottom dwellers. Hence, you want to fish close to the bottom of structures, about 60 feet deep.

4. Bottom fishing and trolling are fishing techniques used to catch amberjacks.

5. Amberjack is a type of jackfish found in the Gulf of Mexico.

6. Amberjack is usually found close to the bottom of waters in depths from 60 to 300 feet.

7. Amberjack spawn in spring.

8. You don’t need wire leaders as amberjack doesn’t have teeth.

9. Amberjack is a tasty fish but is known to carry parasitic worms in its flesh. In some areas, the amberjack is also known to carry ciguatera toxin.

10. Spring and summer are the best times to fish for amberjacks.

11. Always set the drag preset to match your strength and that of your equipment to prevent your equipment from getting broken.

12. Amberjacks get excited pretty easily and will swim to the surface where you can use plugs and other baits to catch them.

13. When you fish for amberjacks near coral reefs, adjust the lead until the bait is positioned midway in the water column. They swim above coral reefs making it the best place to have your bait.

14. Trolling, bottom fishing, and jigging are some of the fishing techniques used to catch amberjack.

15. Always use circle hooks when fishing for amberjack.

16. Always use braided or monofilament lines as the counter pull from the amberjack can break the line if it is not braided or monofilament line. Braided lines cut through ocean currents better and can drag out amberjack from deep waters over long distances.

What is the best bait to catch an amberjack?

Squid, shrimps, small crabs, sardines, mackerel, and blue runners are some of the best baits for amberjack.

Are amberjack easy to catch?

It is challenging to catch amberjack as it is large, strong, and puts up a hard fight when hooked. If you don’t have the right tackle for the fight, amberjack will break the line and be set free.

How far out do you have to go to catch amberjack?

Amberjack is a bottom feeder and you will have to go to depths from 60 to 300 feet to catch them.

Where is amberjack caught?

Amberjacks can be found deep in the waters around structures like coral reefs, wrecks, and oil rigs.

What size circle hook for amberjack?

Hook sizes in the range of 8/10 to 10/0 will work for fishing amberjack.

What size reel to use for amberjack?

Amberjack is large and very strong. To successfully reel them to the surface with all the fighting, you will need a very strong and heavy reel. An 8000-size reel will work for amberjacks weighing up to 30 pounds. For amberjacks weighing over 30 pounds, go with a 10,000-size reel.

How do you target the amberjack in the Gulf?

You can use fishing techniques like trolling, bottom fishing, and jigging.

The Bottom Line

Amberjack is a popular gamefish for anglers as it grows to be large and will put up a hard fight when hooked. It can be found in the Gulf of Mexico. Using the right equipment to catch amberjack is very important to successfully catch this fish as it is very strong and heavy.

In this article, we discussed the fishing techniques, the equipment needed, amberjack fishing tips, baits, and lures to help you catch this very strong fish. If you are also interested in other fishes like Mahi Mahi, marlin, and largemouth bass, then read the articles on how to catch marlin, how to catch largemouth bass, and how to catch Mahi Mahi.