All Jacked Up: Jigging for Amberjack

What’s one of the most determined fighters you’ll encounter around reefs and wrecks? Few people would argue that the amberjack can be topped for sheer pound-for-pound pulling power. Added bonus: they usually are quite willing to strike, regardless of environmental variables. And one of the best ways to get them on the line is by jigging.

RIG a conventional or spinning set-up in the 20 to 30 pound class with a 40- to 60-pound fluorocarbon leader, with a ball-bearing swivel at the end. Then clip on a metal jigging spoon in the two to four ounce range. Long, slender spoons that sink fast and dart when jigged, like Butterfly jigs or Hopkins, are the best option. Silver, gold, blue, and pink are all excellent color choices, though the fish’s preference can vary from day to day.

DROP the spoon in free-fall all the way to the bottom. If you see the fish suspended on your meter, drop until you’re confident your spoon is 10 to 20 feet below the fish – and if your jig stops sinking before it hits bottom engage the reel and swing for the stars, because a jack has already grabbed it.

JIG with fast sweeps of the rod, cranking the reel a couple of times between each sweep. These fish like fast-moving baits and you physically can not jerk the rod or crank the reel quickly enough to be too fast for them. Continue jigging until the spoon hits the surface, because amberjack will often follow the lure for a while before hitting and sometimes strike just before it breaks the water’s surface.

HOLD your rod firmly at all times. Amberjack are one of the few species that won’t necessarily wait for a jigging spoon to sink before hitting it, but attacks when the lure is moving at full speed. As a result, there’s often a ton-of-bricks style strike that can easily yank the rod out of your hands if you’re not prepared for it.

RELEASE the fish gently after un-hooking it; some people do eat amberjack but their meat is rather soft and oily, much like that of a bluefish. Also like bluefish, their meat gets mushy after freezing. If you’re not planning to eat the fish immediately, make sure it gets treated with respect and released unharmed.