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Was thinking of trying to target some Amberjack and wanted to see if anyone could share their favorite techniques and maybe some general areas to target these fish. Want to try and land a couple but really haven't had much experience with these guys. Do they like live bait? I've heard of folks using vertical jigs....thoughts?

Live bait, jigs, towers or deep water wrecks with high relief

And an eletric reel...

^ only if you plan on catching more than 1 or 2

Heavy Braid, heavy Leader, decent sized hook, and a BOOM STICK'M attitude...

Last trip out to K and V towers we loaded up. Live blue runners were their favorite, 5/0 circle hook, 60lb/80lb/100lb fluoro on 80lb diamond braid on a new Cabo80 matched up w/ an XtraHeavy Ugly Stick (Worst looking combo ever, btw...)

galantnole wrote:^ only if you plan on catching more than 1 or 2

Heavy Braid, heavy Leader, decent sized hook, and a BOOM STICK'M attitude...

Last trip out to K and V towers we loaded up. Live blue runners were their favorite, 5/0 circle hook, 60lb/80lb/100lb fluoro on 80lb diamond braid on a new Cabo80 matched up w/ an XtraHeavy Ugly Stick (Worst looking combo ever, btw...)

Awesome....look forward to wearing it out.

IMO, there isn't a better bait for amberjacks than a live hardtail (blue runner). Use a large sabiki rig or troll small spoons around marker buoys or structure and you should be able to catch a few. Dog Island Reef is a good place to find them as well. Drop them to the bottom on your grouper rod, or toss one out behind the boat on a flatline. If the AJ's are there, they'll find him pretty quick.

You know they call them Reef Donkeys for a reason....

They will wear you out at K Tower. We used cut lady fish as bait

Years ago we used to catch them at Yamaha Reef. Used live pinfish and when they'd come to the top, we used big topwater chuggers. They're too much for me now. Ya'll have fun!

Years ago we used to catch them at Yamaha Reef. Used live pinfish and when they'd come to the top, we used big topwater chuggers. They're too much for me now. Ya'll have fun!

zload wrote:You know they call them Reef Donkeys for a reason....

That is about the nicest thing I call those worm infested bait stealing denizens of the bottom!