Damn Good Amberjack Fishing Charters

Check real-time availability and compare rates on amberjack fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

Choose a Date
4.86/5 Average Rating

Damn Good Guides

You will only find quality, vetted guides on Captain Experiences, and we know them all on a first-name basis

Experts Available 24/7

Our US-based team is available 24/7 to help you with any questions or concerns

100% Weather Guarantee

We want to keep everyone safe, so in the case of inclement weather we'll work with you to reschedule at no cost

Top Cities for Amberjack Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Amberjack Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore Fishing in Destin

In Season - Half Day - 31" CH

100% (34) Managed by Christian
31 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,530
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Murrells Inlet

3/4 Day - 26' Mako

100% (1) Managed by Austin
26 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,200
Hot Trip
people are viewing this trip.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Orange Beach

12 Hour Trip - 38' Custom

100% (19) Guided by Bryan
38 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

6-Hour Sportfishing Charter

100% (2) Guided by Will
46 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,300
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Shalimar

Gulf Of America Fishing! 🎣🎣

100% (3) Guided by Chris
27 ft 1 - 12 People From $775
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Key West

Key West Offshore Action

96% (28) Guided by John
32 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,000
See All Amberjack Trips

Everything to Know About Booking an amberjack fishing charter

What are the best amberjack fishing charters?

The best amberjack fishing charters are:

What is an Amberjack?

While there are a number of variations and subspecies of amberjack, what remains true across them is their warm weather affinity and absolute pleasure to fight on the line. The most common types of amberjack you will hear about are the greater and lesser amberjacks of the Atlantic, and the yellowtail of the Pacific. They are all part of the greater jack / trevally family (Carrangidae) and are the biggest members of the family.

How big do Amberjack get?

The size you can expect depends of course on what type of AJ you are targeting. The greater amberjack is the largest of the jacks and are typically 20-40 pounds, although they can grow to fairly large sizes, being as long as 5 ft and up to 150 pounds. Greater amberjacks mature at around 4 years old and can live up 17 years, and females are known to live longer than males. Lesser amberjacks are usually under 10 pounds and yellowtails can be somewhere in the middle.

What's the biggest Amberjack ever caught?

The current IGFA world record AJ is a 156 pounder (and 13 ounces) caught off Japan in 2010. The biggest amberjack caught in Florida was caught in Islamorada at 142 pounds, and the Texas record is 121 lbs.

Where is the best place to catch Amberjack?

Amberjack can be found in warm temperate waters worldwide including California and Baja, Hawaii, South Japan, China, the Philippines, parts of the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and all over the Atlantic. Yellowtails are the most common in California and Australia. Greater AJs are particularly popular to catch in Florida and Kona, while yellowtails are the CA and Baja specialty.

In terms of habitat, juveniles will be in shallower water of up to 25 feet, often near floating objects and flotsam. Larger mature AJs are found offshore over reefs and wrecks or near rigs. They will often be 50 to 250 feet deep. In Florida you might be lucky enough to catch some swimming closer to the surface occasionally.

When should I catch Amberjack?

The warmer the water, the more amberjack will be around. This is why South Florida and the Keys are the perfect places to find them year-round. Fishing across the Gulf in Texas or further North will be most productive in the warmer spring, summer, and fall months although the season is closed in the Gulf states for the majority of the summer. The bag limit and size limit vary by state but are usually 1 AJ per person per day and minimum size of around 30 inches.

 

How do you catch Amberjack?

Amberjacks are prized for their fighting ability and these reef donkeys (as they are known) are powerful, pulling hard down to the bottom once hooked. They are known to never tire even upon reaching the side of the boat.

AJ tend to swim in groups at a young age but spread out as they mature, although you can occasionally still find groups of bigger AJ. They are also thought to spawn offshore throughout most of the year.

In terms of prey, amberjack will eat a wide variety, feeding on squid, fish, and crustaceans, and therefore all sorts of lures and baits as well (live, dead, plugs, jigs, spoons, flies, and more) as long as they are presented well. Feel free to jig reefs although know that the risk of getting torn off in the reef is high unless you pull the fish up quick and don’t let them gain any ground. It is better to try to lure them closer to the surface.

You’ll want to use heavy enough tackle (especially braided or monofilament line) to handle a big and hard-fighting fish - they are strong enough to be known for dragging anglers overboard!

Are Amberjack good to eat? What are the best Amberjack recipes?

Amberjack are known to have lean and firm white meat with a somewhat neutral taste. AJs can have ciguatera especially if they are bigger, or to have worms in their tail section, so it is best to cut off the back end of the fish. For safety the fish is better consumed cooked, and one of the most common ways to eat them is smoked and eaten as fish dip, which reduces safety risks and adds a little flavor. Yellowtail are a different story however, and are known as a quality raw fish - cut some up at the dock with some soy sauce and wasabi for a post-fish treat.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Great was Great ! Aiden was also very good! We had a Great time and caught some Nice fish! Great boat too!

    Bryan K. | April 27, 2026

    Trip: St. Pete Offshore Experience

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Josh was fantastic - he took grest care of my family and I, caught a ton a great fish, and enjoyed the amazing boat. He and his assistant were extremely enthusiastic and were great in teaching my kids about fishing in the Gulf. Great times had by all and would greatly recommend him.

    Christopher J. | April 13, 2026

    Trip: Nokomis Offshore/Nearshore

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing trip with the kids. A lot of action, everyone caught a handful of fish and had a blast. We brought home 30+ fish and had an amazing dinner. Couldn’t recommend more - we’d love to run it back on our next trip!

    Jim P. | April 12, 2026

    Trip: Destin Spring Special

  • ★★★★★
    We had such a great trip! Captain Gavin had us on fish all day, and Cayden worked his tail off making sure we all were rigged up and had lines in the water at all times. The boat was very comfortable for our group of 8. We will fish with them again next time we are in Destin. Thanks again for a great trip!

    Paul C. | April 10, 2026

    Trip: Destin Spring Special

  • ★★★★★
    Had an excellent trip. There was not a lot of boats getting fish, but the Captain and his Mate kept working at it, and we both had success. Very enjoyable trip!

    Allen R. | April 7, 2026

    Trip: Offshore, Reef & Wreck, And Sunset

States

Cities

Countries

Other Fishing Species

Hunting Species

Tour Species

Featured Cities

What's biting?

View Amberjack Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

Enter to Win a

$500 DAMN GOOD GIFT CARD

Gift Card

Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.

By subscribing, you agree to receive marketing communications from Captain Experiences. To opt-out, click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

See All Amberjack Trips