Physical description:

The coloration of the greater amberjack is characterized by a dark stripe on the head which extends from the origin of the first dorsal gin through the eye. The back is blue or olivaceous, and the sides and belly are silvery-white. Occationally there is an amber or pinkish cast to the body. Juveniles have have five or six dark verticle bars along the sides.

Biological description:

Greater amberjack are found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the western Atlantic, they are distributed from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, where they concentrate around reefs, rock outcrops and wrecks. Greater amberjack that are at least 5 years of age, or 33.5 inches long, spawn from March through July. They may reach a size of 6 feet, and weigh nearly 200 pounds. Voracious predators, greater amberjacks eat mostly crab, squid and other fishes found on reefs. They are often found in small groups and are friendly to divers.

South Atlantic Federal Regulations

(For areas three-200 miles off the coasts of NC, SC, GA, and East Florida)

Commercial:

Limited access permit required.

• 36" FL size limit, no coring.
• Trip limit is 1,000 pounds.
• Commercial fishery closed April 1-30; 1,169,931 pound quota. No sale after quota is reached. No sale in April.
• Gear restrictions apply.

Recreational:

• 28" FL size limit, no coring.
• Daily bag limit=1. See updated Recreational Regulations Summary (pdf) in the Regulations by Species homepage.
• Gear restrictions apply.