How to catch Lesser amberjack
Seriola fasciata (Bloch, 1793)
About Lesser amberjack fishing
The lesser amberjack is a benthopelagic marine fish belonging to the jack and pompano family Carangidae. Recognised by its fusiform body, olive green to brownish back, silver flanks, and a characteristic dark stripe running from behind the eye to the dorsal fin, it typically reaches a moderate size with a maximum length around sixty seven centimetres. This predatory species inhabits offshore waters and rocky or deep reef systems, occurring close to the sea floor at depths ranging from fifty to over three hundred metres. Adults feed primarily on small fishes and cephalopods, while juveniles occupy pelagic or neritic zones. It is valued as a game fish throughout its Atlantic and Mediterranean range.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
50 cm TL
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Market value
Very high
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Habitat
Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Amberjack, False amberjack, Lesser Amberjack, Little amberjack
Caudal shape
Deeply forked tail fin characteristic of fast swimming pelagic carangids.
Amber stripe
Distinct amber horizontal stripe along the flank separates it from other jacks.
Nuchal band
Dark diagonal band running from eye to nape diagnostic of lesser amberjack.
Lesser amberjack fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
50 cm TL (max 67.5 cm FL ) -
Typical weight
0.8 kg (max 4.6 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
17.7–26.5 °C -
Depth
55–348 m -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
46.8
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Peak
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Low
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Lesser amberjack
How to catch Lesser amberjack
Tips for catching Lesser amberjack
Targeting lesser amberjack requires plying deep offshore structures such as wrecks, drop-offs, and rocky reefs where adults hold near the bottom. Vertical jigging with weighted metal jigs or presenting live baits and squid strips close to the seafloor proved highly effective for enticing strikes from these strong predators. Fishing is most productive during warmer months when fish are active around deep structure. Anglers should use robust tackle to manage powerful runs and keep hooked fish clear of abrasive bottom contours.
Other names for Lesser amberjack
Local and alternate names anglers use for Lesser amberjack.
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Lesser amberjack
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Little amberjack
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False amberjack
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Amberjack
Best equipment to catch Lesser amberjack
Compare fishing methods for Lesser amberjack — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.8 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Jigging
Working vertical lures with an active up-and-down motion.
90% Effectiveness
Rod
Jigging rod
A jigging rod is the short, powerful fishing rod for working a metal jig up through the column, including freshwater jigging.
Sized for a typical fish
heavy · 1.52 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Jigging reel
A jigging reel is a compact, high-speed conventional for working metal jigs. A short retrieve picks up slack fast.
Sized for a typical fish
10 · 10 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Star
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
80% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 2.1 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
2.5 kg · 0.16 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
4
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Live Baiting
Fishing a live baitfish or live invertebrate as the primary presentation.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 2.1 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
2.5 kg · 0.16 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
4
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Trolling
Drawing lures or baits behind a moving boat.
60% Effectiveness
Rod
Trolling rod
A trolling rod is built to sit in a holder and pull a lure or bait at speed. Moderate action so the rod, not the reel, plays the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 1.83 m
- Reel seat
- Casting
- Form factor
- One-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Trolling reel
A trolling reel is the dedicated lever-drag fishing reel for pulling lures behind a boat, often in a holder all day.
Sized for a typical fish
20 · 15 kg drag
- Spool
- Revolving
- Mount
- Over
- Drag
- Lever
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Lesser amberjack
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Metal jig
- Jigging
A long metal lure for speed-jigging the deep column.
03
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
04
Sardine
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated silvery baitfish body releases strong scent trails.
05
Live baitfish
- Live Baiting
Elongated segmented worm body provides natural movement to attract fish.
How Lesser amberjack migrates — Inshore–offshore
Shifts between shallow inshore water and deeper offshore grounds with the season.
1 Warm months
Inshore
Stay close inshore through the warm months.
2 Cold months
Offshore
Move offshore into deeper water as it cools.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Lesser amberjack
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Diet
Top predator -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Morning
Prey and predators of Lesser amberjack
Prey is what Lesser amberjack eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Other prey
Predators
What hunts it
Birds
Where Lesser amberjack lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
55–348 m
Where this species lives
Lesser amberjack photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.