Amberjack

Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
The heaviest fish you will encounter on structure in the western Mediterranean. Amberjack are built differently from pelagic species — broad-shouldered, thick-tailed, designed for short explosive bursts and the ability to lock into deep structure and simply stop moving. The dark amber stripe running from eye to tail and the darker diagonal band through the head make them immediately identifiable. Off Cambrils and Hospitalet de l´Infant, they hold on deep wrecks and rocky plateaus between 40m and 120m, often in loose groups. The primary technique is vertical jigging — working metal jigs in a rapid, rhythmic lift-and-fall through the water column until a fish commits. When one does, the initial run goes straight down toward the structure, and the first ten seconds of the fight determine the outcome: hold the fish out of the rocks or lose it. Live baiting with squid or baitfish marks is the alternative for larger specimens. Season peaks June through December. Fish commonly exceed 20kg.