Greater Amberjack
Scientific Name: Seriola dumerili | Category: saltwater
The greater amberjack presents as a formidable slab of muscle and purpose, with a body built for explosive bursts through open water. Its frame is deep and laterally compressed, resembling a robust football crossed with a predator’s blade. Mature fish typically range from 30 to 60 pounds, though true behemoths can push well over 100, and their colouring is a masterpiece of marine camouflage: a brassy-olive to blue-grey back fading to a silver-white belly, with a distinctive dark, diagonal ‘amber’ stripe running from its nose through the eye—though this often only becomes visible post-mortem. In the water or at the boat, anglers instantly recognize the powerful, wide tail and the dark, angular, sickle-shaped second dorsal and anal fins, which distinguish it from its smaller relatives.
species.getBySlug
{
"id": "7071a452-aa26-4bfc-9307-aeeb9043c420",
"commonName": "Greater Amberjack",
"scientificName": "Seriola dumerili",
"slug": "greater-amberjack",
"category": "saltwater",
"aliases": [
"Amberjack",
"AJ",
"Donkey",
"Reef Donkey",
"Great Amberjack",
"Greater AJ",
"Giant Amberjack"
],
"description": "The greater amberjack presents as a formidable slab of muscle and purpose, with a body built for explosive bursts through open water. Its frame is deep and laterally compressed, resembling a robust football crossed with a predator’s blade. Mature fish typically range from 30 to 60 pounds, though true behemoths can push well over 100, and their colouring is a masterpiece of marine camouflage: a brassy-olive to blue-grey back fading to a silver-white belly, with a distinctive dark, diagonal ‘amber’ stripe running from its nose through the eye—though this often only becomes visible post-mortem. In the water or at the boat, anglers instantly recognize the powerful, wide tail and the dark, angular, sickle-shaped second dorsal and anal fins, which distinguish it from its smaller relatives.",
"imageUrl": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/species/greater-amberjack/main.webp",
"hero": {
"blurhash": "UnQ]pEn$tRt7RjWBt7j]?wkDjrt7?cozWAj[",
"altText": "Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) watercolor",
"caption": "The greater amberjack presents as a formidable slab of muscle and purpose, with a body built for explosive bursts through open water.",
"width": 2400,
"height": 1340
},
"phases": [
{
"id": "14f6453e-7888-4a01-ac05-e0dd40e32279",
"name": "Juvenile/Small Adult",
"slug": "juvenile-small-adult",
"description": "Younger greater amberjack school tightly around reefs, wrecks, and other structures, using them as both protection and hunting grounds. Their life is one of constant motion and opportunistic feeding as they grow into the ocean's formidable predators.",
"appearance": "Body is deep and laterally compressed, but more slender than older adults. Coloration is a vibrant metallic silver to brassy-olive across the flanks with a silver-white belly. The characteristic dark amber stripe from nose through eye is faint or absent. Fins are proportionally large. Size typically ranges from a few pounds up to about 20-30 pounds.",
"triggers": null,
"habitat": "Coastal waters, typically associated with reefs, wrecks, oil rigs, and other high-relief structure, often in schools.",
"anglersNote": "This is the most commonly encountered phase by inshore and nearshore anglers. They are aggressive and provide exciting light-tackle sport.",
"displayOrder": 0,
"imageUrl": null,
"media": null
},
{
"id": "ae615988-08a0-48da-b630-b9abf5cc69a7",
"name": "Large Ocean Adult",
"slug": "large-ocean-adult",
"description": "Mature greater amberjack transition from structured inshore habitats to a more pelagic, nomadic existence. These powerful fish roam the open ocean and deepwater structures, hunting larger prey and embodying raw, brute strength.",
"appearance": "A massive, thick-shouldered slab of muscle with a very deep, laterally compressed body, resembling a 'football'. Coloration darkens significantly to a dusky blue-grey, olive-brown, or bronze on the back, fading to a dirty silver or pale belly. The dark 'amber' stripe from nose through eye becomes prominent, especially after death. The second dorsal and anal fins are pronounced, dark, and sickle-shaped. Size ranges from 30 to over 100 pounds.",
"triggers": "Reaching maturity and larger size, leading to a shift towards deeper, more open-water habitats.",
"habitat": "Offshore waters, often associated with deep reefs, wrecks, open water, and current lines. May be solitary or in smaller pods.",
"anglersNote": "This is the trophy phase, known for brutal, deep-diving fights that test heavy tackle. A premier target for offshore anglers seeking a powerful adversary.",
"displayOrder": 1,
"imageUrl": null,
"media": null
}
],
"contentUpdatedAt": "2026-05-09T22:31:44.105Z"
}species.getDestinations (0)
[]
faqs.getByEntity (0)
[]
seo.getBySlug
{
"title": null,
"description": "Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) are powerful, hard-fighting saltwater game fish. Learn about their appearance, habitat, and angling characteristics.",
"h1Override": null,
"canonicalUrl": null,
"robots": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogDescription": "The Greater Amberjack, also known as AJ or Reef Donkey, is a powerful saltwater predator. Discover what makes this fish a premier target for offshore anglers.",
"ogImage": null,
"ogType": null,
"twitterCard": null,
"focusKeyword": "greater amberjack fishing",
"secondaryKeywords": [
"greater amberjack",
"seriola dumerili",
"saltwater",
"amberjack",
"aj",
"donkey",
"reef donkey",
"great amberjack",
"greater aj",
"giant amberjack"
],
"sitemapPriority": null,
"sitemapChangefreq": null,
"customMeta": null,
"redirectUrl": null,
"breadcrumbLabel": null
}