UTERGreater amberjack fishing in The Florida Panhandle
In The Florida Panhandle, greater amberjack peak March–June and October–November and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Spawning on the deep wrecks and rigs; Gulf season — check MyFWC.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Greater amberjack in The Florida Panhandle, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchSpawningSpawning on the deep wrecks and rigs; Gulf season — check MyFWC.
- AprilSpawning
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish greater amberjack near Pensacola, Destin, Panama City
Deep bays behind long barrier islands — Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, Apalachicola — with grass flats on the bay side, bayous and creek mouths, and the passes cut through to the Gulf. Emerald water on the beach side; the surf is a real fishery here.
Fish Scouter charts 1,669 artificial reef, 723 ledge / hard bottom, 460 wreck spots in the The Panhandle map area — the kinds greater amberjack hold on.
What to use for greater amberjack
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 64–84°F water, best at 68–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch greater amberjack in The Florida Panhandle?
Peak season is March–June and October–November, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Greater amberjack are here year-round. March: Spawning on the deep wrecks and rigs; Gulf season — check MyFWC.
Where do greater amberjack hold in The Florida Panhandle?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, Apalachicola.
What is the best bait for greater amberjack in The Florida Panhandle?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), pinfish, cigar minnows, goggle-eyes. Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for greater amberjack in The Florida Panhandle?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about greater amberjack · The Panhandle, the whole year