1. Use a Fluorocarbon Leader at Least 10ft Long
Why so long? The longer leader gives the bait more room to try and escape the amberjack. In many cases, even if the amberjack is not hungry, their aggressive nature will kick in and they will attack the bait fish trying to escape.
2. Get a Shaded Relief Chip for Your Bottom Machine
Getting a shaded relief chip for your bottom machine so you can easily find the ledges, rocks, and reefs where the amberjack live.
These areas don’t show up well on just the plain navigation chart. The new version from Garmin is Navionics Plus with relief shading.
If you have another brand unit you will need the Cmor chip.
3. Take the Time to Get Live Hardtails or Mullet
Spending the time to get either live hardtails or cast net some live mullet.
Ruby lips, squirrel fish, pinfish, cigar minnows, and herring all work but not as well.
Hardtail
Mullet
4. Try Various Jigs
Jigging for amberjack is very effective. Generally the longer jigs work best do to their very erratic action.
You will want a variety of jigs like butterfly, monarch, and flat fall jigs.
Each has a different action and on any given day one will produce better than others so try different ones to find which is working best that day.
5. Fish Deeper, Cooler Water
Concentrate your efforts in deeper cooler water and you will be more successful in the summer and fall heat.
