How to catch Almaco jack

Almaco jack feed in 66–84°F water and bite best at 70–80°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 4 waters.

35 pts · trophy at 30"Feeds 66–84°FBest 70–80°FIn season nowWreckArtificial reefLedge / hard bottom

The amberjack's deeper-bodied cousin, on the same wrecks and towers, better on the plate. Mistaken for AJ by everyone until they look at the fins.

Same as the amberjack — a live bait or a jig on the wreck — and keep this one for dinner.

What it eats

live baitsvertical jigs

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.

the sizes that fish it

Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon

Hook2/0–7/0

Braid30–65 lb

not confirmed here

Within the jack limits; confirm at MyFWC.

PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving

Gulf of Mexico

South Atlantic