Greater Amberjack
Greater amberjack turn up along Australia's east coast from southern Queensland to eastern Tasmania, around Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, and from Albany to the Rowley Shoals in Western Australia.
They're mostly a bycatch when anglers are working deep reef for samson fish or mackerel, but a big amberjack on the end of a jig is a serious workout — these fish pull hard all the way to the surface and will bury you in structure if you give them an inch.
Scientific Name: Seriola dumerili
Also known as Allied Kingfish, Reef Donkey, Sea Donkey, Sailor's Choice, Yellow Trevally
- Brownish to bluish-grey back fading to silvery-white below; a pale yellow to rusty stripe runs along the flanks on many fish.
- A dark diagonal stripe runs from the snout back to the first dorsal fin — this stripe intensifies noticeably when the fish is feeding or agitated.
- Closely resembles samson fish; the most reliable separator is the nuchal band angle — amberjack's band runs at a steeper angle across the head.
- Largest of the Carangidae family; typical fish run 10–20 kg, with large specimens exceeding 40 kg and a recorded maximum around 80 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; distributed from Albany to the Rowley Shoals (WA) and from around Noosa Heads (QLD) south to Gippsland Lakes (VIC) and eastern Tasmania, plus Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.
- Reef-associated and pelagic; found around offshore reefs, rocky outcrops, deep seaward drop-offs, and deep offshore holes — generally from 18 m down to well past 100 m.
- In southern WA, encountered mostly as a solitary bycatch while fishing deep water north of Rottnest Island and surrounding shelf edges.
- Juveniles occasionally appear in shallower coastal waters; larger adults are almost exclusively found in deeper offshore structure.
Key Locations
- Offshore reefs and shelf edges north of Rottnest Island, WA — deep water (100 m+) where amberjack appear as bycatch on samson fish grounds.
- Rowley Shoals, WA — remote offshore atoll system with deep reef structure holding amberjack among other large pelagics.
- East coast offshore reefs from southern Queensland to northern NSW — shelf-edge drop-offs and rocky outcrops in 60–150 m.
- Lord Howe Island — deep reef structure in the Tasman Sea known to hold amberjack.
Specific Spots
- Deep drop-offs and shelf edges are the most consistent holding areas — amberjack sit just above the bottom and use the structure as a current break and feeding station.
- Wrecks, pinnacles, and rocky outcrops concentrate baitfish and hold amberjack; fish the up-current face where bait gets pushed against the structure.
- Deeper holes adjacent to reef systems, particularly in 80–150 m, tend to hold the larger fish — smaller individuals are more likely to be found in shallower reef zones.
Greater Amberjack FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Greater Amberjack?
Metal jigs, knife jigs and slow-pitch jigs in the 150–300 g range, are the most effective method for targeting amberjack on deep offshore structure; work them close to the bottom and through the mid-water column.
When is the best time to fish for Greater Amberjack?
Can be encountered year-round on suitable offshore structure, with no strongly defined closed season in Australian waters. Spring and early summer see spawning activity, which can concentrate fish on offshore reef systems along the east coast and WA shelf.
How do you catch Greater Amberjack?
Amberjack in Australia are nearly always caught from boats working deep offshore structure, jigging metal lures close to the bottom over pinnacles, drop-offs, and wrecks accounts for most deliberate catches.
What do Greater Amberjack eat?
Primarily eat smaller fish, baitfish, mackerel, and similar reef-associated species, which makes large metal jigs and skirted trolling lures the go-to presentations. Also take squid and prawns; soft-plastic paddle tails rigged on heavy jig heads or slow-pitch jigs in squid and baitfish colours cover both forage types.
Where do Greater Amberjack live?
Native to Australian waters; distributed from Albany to the Rowley Shoals (WA) and from around Noosa Heads (QLD) south to Gippsland Lakes (VIC) and eastern Tasmania, plus Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands.
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