Greater Amberjack
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Quick Facts
Greater amberjack. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Greater amberjack. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the Species
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 under U.S. regulations.
Population
In the South Atlantic, the stock is not overfished. In the Gulf of Mexico, the stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
In the South Atlantic, not subject to overfishing. In the Gulf of Mexico, reduced to end overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch greater amberjack rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because the gears used to catch greater amberjack are selective.
Population Status
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There are two stocks of greater amberjack: a Gulf of Mexico stock and a South Atlantic stock. According to the most recent stock assessments:
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The Gulf of Mexico stock is overfished and subject to overfishing (2021 stock assessment). This stock has been in a rebuilding plan since 2003. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
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The South Atlantic stock is not overfished (2020 stock assessment) and not subject to overfishing based on 2021 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
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- During the period of high landings in the 1980s and 1990s, greater amberjack became an important alternative for red drum, which experienced decreases in commercial landings. In the Gulf of Mexico, fishing rates were too high and the stock was declared overfished in 2001.
Appearance
- 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.
- 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 Mexico and the Caribbean.
Habitat
- Juvenile greater amberjack school around mats of pelagic (open ocean) Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico. 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 Mexico, 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 2021, commercial landings of greater amberjack totaled 885,000 pounds and were valued at $1.7 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 2021, recreational anglers landed 1.6 million pounds of greater amberjack, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
Scientific Classification
- 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 Mexico and the Caribbean.
- Juvenile greater amberjack school around mats of pelagic (open ocean) Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico. 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 Mexico, 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 2021, commercial landings of greater amberjack totaled 885,000 pounds and were valued at $1.7 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 2021, recreational anglers landed 1.6 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 |
|---|
Seafood Facts
Is Greater Amberjack Sustainable?
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 under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Fresh (except in April when fishery is closed) and frozen year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Virginia to Texas, including the U.S. Caribbean.
Taste
Greater amberjack has a sweet, mild flavor.
Texture
Tender, firm, and delicate. The high oil content gives it a buttery texture.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g; Calories: 146; Protein: 23.1 g; Total Fat: 5.24 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 1.28 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 55 mg; Selenium: 36.5 mcg; Sodium: 39 mgSeafood News
Rainbow in the dusk sky at San Diego Harbor. Credit: NOAA/Liana Heberer.
The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2023–2028) includes goals and objectives to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry in the United States. Credit: NOAA Aquaculture Program
Raw oysters on plate. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.