Fish
Amberjack
Seriola dumerili · also called greater amberjack, reef donkey
Hook an amberjack near a reef or wreck and the fight rarely ends quickly, a reputation for sheer stubborn strength that has earned it the nickname reef donkey among anglers who have spent an exhausting stretch of line trying to bring one up.
Overview
The amberjack, Seriola dumerili, is a large, powerful member of the jack family found around reefs, wrecks, and structure in warm waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It hunts smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans, and supports both major commercial and recreational fisheries.
A fish worth checking before eating
Beyond its fighting reputation, amberjack from certain reef systems can carry ciguatera toxin, concentrated up the food chain from smaller reef organisms, making regional food safety advisories a genuinely worthwhile check before eating a catch from unfamiliar waters.
Status
Least Concern — generally stable under commercial and recreational catch regulations, though some localised populations have faced overfishing pressure.
Amberjack: common questions
Why is the amberjack called the reef donkey?
Anglers nicknamed the amberjack the reef donkey specifically because of its notably stubborn and powerful fighting behaviour once hooked, a reputation for strength and endurance during the fight that has made landing a large amberjack a genuinely challenging and popular achievement among recreational sport anglers.
Is it safe to eat amberjack?
Amberjack caught around certain reef systems can accumulate ciguatera toxin, a naturally occurring toxin that becomes concentrated up the food chain from smaller reef organisms, so while amberjack is widely and safely eaten in many areas, checking regional advisories and the specific source of the fish is an important food safety consideration in affected waters.
How big can an amberjack actually get?
The amberjack, also known as the greater amberjack, is one of the largest species in the jack family, capable of growing considerably larger and heavier than many of its relatives, such as the pompano, making it a substantial and physically demanding fish to land during recreational fishing.
Where do amberjack typically live?
Amberjack are strongly associated with reefs, shipwrecks, and other significant underwater structure across warm temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, generally patrolling these areas both to hunt smaller fish and to make use of the structure for shelter and ambush opportunities.