Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili · Also known as: Amberjack, Medregal, Coronado

Although some populations are below target levels, U.S. wild-caught greater amberjack is still a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested un

All nature fish Where to see wildlife Angling & regulations

This is a Nature Guide page (viewing and ID). Catch limits, tackle, and charter fit live on the separate Fishing species profile—we keep those products apart on purpose.

Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) — Ocean City, Maryland — Illustration/photo: NOAA Fisheries — Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili).

Quick facts

Group	Fish · Mid-Atlantic
Viewing lane	Offshore / bluewater
Likelihood nearby	★★★☆☆
Region	New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast

How to recognize them

Greater amberjack can grow up to 6 feet long and live to be 17 years old.
Adults can weigh up to 200 pounds, but are most commonly found to be up to 40 pounds.
Females grow larger in size and live longer than males.
Greater amberjack mature at about 3 to 4 years of age and spawn primarily from March to June on reefs and shipwrecks.
A female can release between 18 and 59 million eggs during a single spawning season.
Adults eat mostly crab, squid, and other fishes found on reefs.
Juveniles feed on plankton, including crustacean larvae and other small invertebrates.
Predators include seabirds and larger fishes, such as yellowfin tuna.
Where They Live Range Greater amberjack are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
In the western Atlantic, they are found from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including the Gulf of America and the Caribbean.
Habitat Juvenile greater amberjack school around mats of pelagic (open ocean) Sargassum in the Gulf of America.
Sargassum is an algae that provides food and protection for juvenile fish and invertebrates in the open ocean.
Schooling behavior decreases as greater amberjack mature.
They shift from inhabiting pelagic to demersal (near the ocean bottom) habitats at about 5 to 6 months of age.
Sub-adults and adults congregate around reefs, rocky outcrops, and wrecks at depths of 60 to 240 feet.
Some populations live in a particular location while others migrate, likely using a variety of habitats and areas throughout the year.
Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the greater amberjack fishery.
In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan : Fishermen must have a limited access snapper grouper permit to commercially harvest greater amberjack.
Anyone entering the commercial fishery must buy two transferable vessel permits in order to qualify for a newly issued permit, thus eliminating one permit each time a new person enters the commercial fishery.
Commercial and recreational size limits, to ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce.
Commercial trip and recreational bag limits.
During April of each year, the commercial fishing season is closed to alleviate fishing pressure when the fish aggregate to spawn and are highly vulnerable to fishing.
The sale and purchase of greater amberjack during this seasonal closure is illegal.
To help protect deep-water snapper grouper species and their habitats, there are restrictions on the use of bottom longline and trawl fishing gear.
There are eight deep-water marine protected areas intended to protect habitats.
In the Gulf of America, managed under the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plan : Commercial and recreational size limits ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce.
Commercial and recreational trip and bag limits.
To promote spawning and slow the rate of harvest, closed seasons have been implemented for the commercial (from March 1 through May 31) and recreational (from June 1 through July 31) fisheries.
To help protect reef fish, sea turtles, and bottom habitat, there are restrictions on the use of longline gear.
A rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place with a target date of 2028.
Harvest In 2024, commercial landings of greater amberjack totaled 500,000 pounds and were valued at approximately $1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Electric and hydraulic reels and hand lines are used to catch most of the commercial harvest of greater amberjack.
Recreational harvest is by hook-and-line.
Greater amberjack are large trophy fish prized by anglers.
In 2024, recreational anglers landed 2.6 million pounds of greater amberjack, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Carangiformes Family Carangidae Genus Seriola Species dumerili Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026

Biology notes

Greater amberjack are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
In the western Atlantic, they are found from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including the Gulf of America and the Caribbean.
Habitat Juvenile greater amberjack school around mats of pelagic (open ocean) Sargassum in the Gulf of America.
Sargassum is an algae that provides food and protection for juvenile fish and invertebrates in the open ocean.
Schooling behavior decreases as greater amberjack mature.
They shift from inhabiting pelagic to demersal (near the ocean bottom) habitats at about 5 to 6 months of age.
Sub-adults and adults congregate around reefs, rocky outcrops, and wrecks at depths of 60 to 240 feet.
Some populations live in a particular location while others migrate, likely using a variety of habitats and areas throughout the year.
Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the greater amberjack fishery.
In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan : Fishermen must have a limited access snapper grouper permit to commercially harvest greater amberjack.
Anyone entering the commercial fishery must buy two transferable vessel permits in order to qualify for a newly issued permit, thus eliminating one permit each time a new person enters the commercial fishery.
Commercial and recreational size limits, to ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce.
Commercial trip and recreational bag limits.
During April of each year, the commercial fishing season is closed to alleviate fishing pressure when the fish aggregate to spawn and are highly vulnerable to fishing.
The sale and purchase of greater amberjack during this seasonal closure is illegal.
To help protect deep-water snapper grouper species and their habitats, there are restrictions on the use of bottom longline and trawl fishing gear.
There are eight deep-water marine protected areas intended to protect habitats.
In the Gulf of America, managed under the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plan : Commercial and recreational size limits ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce.
Commercial and recreational trip and bag limits.
To promote spawning and slow the rate of harvest, closed seasons have been implemented for the commercial (from March 1 through May 31) and recreational (from June 1 through July 31) fisheries.
To help protect reef fish, sea turtles, and bottom habitat, there are restrictions on the use of longline gear.
A rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place with a target date of 2028.
Harvest In 2024, commercial landings of greater amberjack totaled 500,000 pounds and were valued at approximately $1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database .
Electric and hydraulic reels and hand lines are used to catch most of the commercial harvest of greater amberjack.
Recreational harvest is by hook-and-line.
Greater amberjack are large trophy fish prized by anglers.
In 2024, recreational anglers landed 2.6 million pounds of greater amberjack, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Carangiformes Family Carangidae Genus Seriola Species dumerili Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026

Habitat & range

NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the greater amberjack fishery.
In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan : Fishermen must have a limited access snapper grouper permit to commercially harvest greater amberjack.
Anyone entering the commercial fishery must buy two transferable vessel permits in order to qualify for a newly issued permit, thus eliminating one permit each time a new person enters the commercial fishery.
Commercial and recreational size limits, to ensure that fish grow large enough to reproduce.
Commercial trip and recreational bag limits.
During April of each year, the commercial fishing season is closed to alleviate fishing pressure when the fish aggregate to spawn and are highly vulnerable to fishing.

Population status

Greater amberjack have a dark amber strip on their head, extending from their nose to their first dorsal (back) fin, which becomes more defined when the fish is excited or feeding.
They have a brownish or bluish-grey back, a silvery-white belly, and an amber horizontal strip along the middle of their body.
Juveniles have a yellow color and five or six dark vertical bars along the sides.
Biology Greater amberjack can grow up to 6 feet long and live to be 17 years old.
Adults can weigh up to 200 pounds, but are most commonly found to be up to 40 pounds.
Females grow larger in size and live longer than males.

Where to see them around Ocean City

Most reliable views are from head boats and private sportfish day trips when bluewater is close—watch for birds, bait, and surface activity from the rail.
Shore viewers rarely see canyon pelagics; use the Inlet and Assateague for coastal species instead, then treat offshore sightings as trip bonuses.
Keep a respectful distance if a vessel approaches whales, sharks, or rays—follow NOAA approach guidelines and captain instructions.

When to look

Peak bluewater viewing usually tracks summer and early fall when warm water and bait move onto the shelf.
Weather windows matter more than calendar weeks—canceled canyon days mean fewer offshore sightings for visitors.
Winter and early spring sightings are possible but less predictable from a typical vacation schedule.

Viewing tips & etiquette

Use binoculars or a long lens; do not enter the water to corner fish, rays, or sharks for photos.
Respect beach nesting closures, stay off dunes, and keep dogs leashed where required.
If you find a stranded or injured animal, contact official wildlife responders—do not attempt rescue yourself.
For harvest rules, size limits, or charter planning, use the Fishing profile for Greater Amberjack —not this Nature Guide page.