Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili
Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili. Fish caught from coastal waters off New Jersey, July 2015. Length: 26 cm (10 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of Leo Slaninko.
Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili. Fish caught from coastal waters off Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, July 2021. Length: 33 cm (13 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumeril. Fish caught from coastal waters off Playa de Carmen, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, April 2012. Length: 83 cm (2 feet 9 inches). Weight: 8.2 kg (18 lbs). Caught, photograph and identification courtesy of Maurice Kerger, Holland.
The Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili, is the largest Atlantic Ocean member of the Jack or Carangidae Family, that is known in Mexico as medregal coroando. There are nine global members of the genus Seriola, of which six are found in Mexican waters, three in the Atlantic, and three in the Pacific Ocean.
The Greater Amberjack has a “jack-like” elongated oval compressed fusiform body that are wider in the middle and taper at both ends and have a depth that is 25% to 29% of standard length. They are amber in color with a lighter underside and have a prominent dark amber stripe that runs from their nose to just in front of their dorsal fin; this stripe fades quickly upon collection and is more prominent in smaller fish. They have a massive body, a long, pointed snout, relatively small eyes, and a large terminal mouth equipped with minute teeth. Their anal fin has 2 spines followed by 1 spine and 18 to 22 rays with a base that is much shorter than the base of the second dorsal fin; their caudal fin has a slender base and is strongly forked; their first dorsal fin has 7 spines; their second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 29 to 34 rays; and, their pectoral fins are short. Juveniles have 18 to 24 gill rakers; adults 11 to 19.
The Greater Amberjack is a subtropical species found inshore often associated with rocky reefs, floating debris, and wrecks at depths ranging from 18 m (60 feet) to 73 m (240 feet). They reach a maximum of 1.9 m (6 feet 3 inches) in length and 80.6 kg (205 lbs) in weight; however, they are typically in the 18 kg (40 lbs) range. As of March 31, 2023, the International Game Fish Association world record for length stood at 1.40 m (4 feet 7 inches) with the fish caught from coastal waters off Key West, Florida in March 2013. The corresponding world record for weight stood at 74 kg (163 lbs) with the fish caught in Japanese waters in July 2011. Females are larger and live longer than males and have lifespans averaging 17 years. Juveniles travel in schools and the adults are solitary. They are opportunistic predators feeding on benthic and pelagic fish as well as squid and crustaceans. In turn they are preyed upon by larger fish, including Yellowfin Tuna and seabirds. The Greater Amberjack is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Greater Amberjack is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean.
The Greater Amberjack can be confused with the Lesser Amberjack, Seriola fasciata (maximum length of 12 in; 21 to 24 gill rakers) and the Banded Rudderfish, Seriola zonata (12 to 16 gill rakers; short anal fin base).
From a conservation perspective the Greater Amberjack is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are targeted by both commercial and recreational fishermen. Commercially they are caught via hook and line, with pelagic and bottom trawls and traps. They are marketed fresh and dried salted but their food value is viewed as marginal and they have been implicated in cases of ciguatoxin poisoning. The Greater Amberjack is a popular recreational game fish that are heavily regulated within the Gulf of Mexico with strict bag and length limits and seasonal closures. They are famous for their slow, steady, and consistent “pull,” resembling a major locomotive that can continue for several minutes without a pause.