Greater amberjack: Florida size, bag and season

As of / last verified: October 14, 2026 against official sources · Source: FWC: Greater amberjack

Greater amberjack limit in Florida: Gulf state and federal waters are 34 inches fork length and 1 per person. The 2026 Gulf season was September 1 through October 13 and is closed as of October 14. Atlantic waters are 28 inches fork length and 1 per person, open January through March and May through December, and closed in April.

Quick answer

Rules in flux: Gulf 2026 season was Sept 1 - Oct 13, 2026: CLOSED as of Oct 14, 2026. Atlantic closed in April.
Gulf: 34" fork length, 1 per person, open September 1 – October 13, 2026
Atlantic: 28" fork length, 1 per person, January–March and May–December. Closed April
Lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish: Slot not less than 14" or greater than 22" fork length. 5 per person, aggregate of the two species
Almaco jack: FWC calls it unregulated: 2 fish or 100 pounds per person per day, whichever is more

Greater amberjack: side view for identification — Greater amberjack. Credit: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. Public domain

Measure in a straight line with the fish on its side; don't follow its curve. Greater amberjack are measured in fork length. Source: FWC Fish Measurement. Original graphic.

Greater amberjack limits

Waters	Size	Bag	Season
Gulf state and federal	34" fork length	1 per person	Open September 1 – October 13, 2026
Atlantic state and federal	28" fork length	1 per person	January–March and May–December. Closed April
Lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish, Atlantic and Gulf state waters	Cannot be less than 14" or greater than 22" fork length	5 per person, aggregate of the two species	Not listed
Almaco jack	Not listed	2 fish or 100 pounds per person per day, whichever is more	Not listed

FWC issued an executive order setting the 2026 Gulf greater amberjack season to September 1 through October 13, consistent with the Gulf federal season. Legal gear for the amberjack page is spears, gigs, hook and line, seine and cast net. Reef fish gear rules apply. State Reef Fish Survey participation is mandatory and must be renewed every year.

Rules in flux. Gulf 2026 season was Sept 1 - Oct 13, 2026: CLOSED as of Oct 14, 2026. Atlantic closed in April.

How do you identify Greater amberjack?

Olive-green or brownish back and silver sides, with a dark stripe from the nose to the front of the dorsal fin that lights up when the fish is feeding.
The anal fin is about two-thirds the length of the second dorsal fin. There are 11 to 19 gill rakers on each gill arch, and no scutes on the body.
FWC lists size up to 60 inches (176 pounds), common around 40 inches and under 40 pounds. They are the largest of the jacks.
The state record is 142 lb, caught near Islamorada.

Look-alikes

Florida pompano. A much smaller jack. Pompano have a gently sloping forehead and an 11-inch, 6-fish limit.
Permit. Permit have a humped forehead and a different slot. They are not the lesser amberjack on this rules page.

Where and when to catch Greater amberjack in Florida?

Greater amberjack are offshore fish on rocky reefs, debris and wrecks, typically in 60 to 240 feet of water, and they are sometimes caught nearshore in south Florida. Juveniles associate with floating objects and may be in water less than 30 feet deep. FWC says they are thought to spawn offshore through most of the year and that they eat squid, fish and crustaceans. The Gulf season dates above are only for 2026.

Regions

Related rules on this site

State Reef Fish Angler designation

Frequently asked questions

Is greater amberjack open in the Gulf on October 14, 2026?

No. The 2026 Gulf season FWC published is September 1 through October 13, 2026.

What is the Atlantic greater amberjack season?

January through March and May through December. Closed in April. The minimum is 28 inches fork length and the bag is 1 per person, in state and federal waters.

What is the limit for lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish?

In Atlantic and Gulf state waters they cannot be less than 14 inches or greater than 22 inches fork length. The bag is 5 per person for the two species combined.

What is the almaco jack limit?

FWC calls almaco jack an unregulated species with a default bag of 2 fish or 100 pounds per person per day, whichever is more.

Official sources

Last verified: October 14, 2026.

Related guides

Disclaimer: This page is a plain-English summary for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules, seasons and boundaries can change at short notice, including by emergency order. Always check the current regulations on MyFWC.com before you fish.