Amberjack : The Reef Donkey: Pound for pound the hardest fighting fish that swims. Let’s hear your Stories guys.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Pound for pound the hardest fighting fish that swims.
Let’s hear your Stories guys.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Cubsfan wrote:

Pound for pound the hardest fighting fish that swims.
Let’s hear your Stories guys.

Well,,,,,,,,,,,, I don't have much of a story, I caught one once that was only 26" the other one that I had on was plenty big enough but lost him at the boat. So, be it.

old phogie Loc: Whitewater, KS

Think the redfish outbattles him! Caught amberjack up to about 38 inches, but that was out on a party fishing boat out of Dolphin Docks, Port Aransas, TX. Big rods don't give fish much of a chance.

I had a 26 inch red take almost all the 10 lb line off my reel one day, had to crank up and go after him. Somebody must have put a lit cigarette under his tail!

Caught more than a few hundred reds in 16 years fishing the Boat Hole and the rest of the Laguna Madre Bay north of the Mansfield cut to Corpus Christi bay.

Like to catch them all. The fight depends on which side of the school you catch them on, one side is tougher than the other!

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Me ? I’m 6ft 230 bodybuilder / power lifter , 30 year vet 85-14. Boats owned 54Ocean , 32 tiara, 32everglades and 17 Cape Horn . Live on the bay so yes I fish everyday . I’ve caught giant bluefin tuna , blue and white marlin , wahoo Mahi halibut most snappers triggers . But the most challenging fish is the Amberjack.
They have to be 33 inches to keep . That makes them
Around 30 lbs. Average depth 100 ft or greater . Live bait or Butterfy jigs are most popular method .

I hired a Capt . To run my Everglades for an AJ trip . My brother was in town and I wanted to fish not work . Capt Dave put us on some 50 pounders . I catch two within ten minutes . On the second fish I had to ask the Capt to grab the rod mid way or I was going to drop it overboard . My left forearm had gone numb. Got the fish to surface gaffed in box on ice . I sat at the helm and said ok guys I m the Capt now . I was spent for the rest of the day . That’s what The Greater Amberjack can do to you . Enjoy and let’s hear your AJ story

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

old phogie wrote:

Think the redfish outbattles him! Caught amberjack... (show quote)

Life in general is like that. Depends on which side of the tracks you come from. Just sayin.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Cubsfan wrote:

Me ? I’m 6ft 230 bodybuilder / power lifter , 30 y... (show quote)

WOW CF. IDK if I could handle one then if it put that much of an @$$ whupin on you. I'll prolly never know cause thry're not available to me. I'm pretty much a fresh water guy with a little striper action thrown in from time to time.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

What I found when offshore fishing and having a big fish on is not grip the rod too tight as my first time I did and my forearm muscle locked up. After that years later when I caught a 310 lb marlin had it to the boat in just over 30 minutes

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Ronniejw wrote:

What I found when offshore fishing and having a big fish on is not grip the rod too tight as my first time I did and my forearm muscle locked up. After that years later when I caught a 310 lb marlin had it to the boat in just over 30 minutes

If I ever get to the East Coast, I'm gonna haft to look you up and go fishin with you. WOW, those are some mighty big fish. I'm jazzed when I catch a 6+ pound LM bass, and still haven't caught one over 10 yet. Maybe someday.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

We fight these fish standing up just a gut buster. No chair . I not joking about trying to lift the rod off the gunnel .
The red fish is a bulldog head down charging run until you turn them and then they head for a dock pole . But they tire and go belly up easy to land . I love to catch reds on light tackle here . But they don’t come close to the power of an AJ .

old phogie Loc: Whitewater, KS

Guess the reds are stouter in Texas.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

saw1 wrote:

If I ever get to the East Coast, I'm gonna haft to look you up and go fishin with you. WOW, those are some mighty big fish. I'm jazzed when I catch a 6+ pound LM bass, and still haven't caught one over 10 yet. Maybe someday.

My best LM was a few years back, 7lb and 2 weeks later another one similar size.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Ronniejw wrote:

My best LM was a few years back, 7lb and 2 weeks later another one similar size.

That's a nice one for sure. Congrats.

Egghead

Ok dumb Wyo guy here!!!! What's an Amber Jack look like. Any pictures would be nice. Thanks.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

Egghead wrote:

Ok dumb Wyo guy here!!!! What's an Amber Jack look like. Any pictures would be nice. Thanks.

Built like a torpedo and goes faster

MadPole Loc: Woodstock Ga

Egghead wrote:

Ok dumb Wyo guy here!!!! What's an Amber Jack look like. Any pictures would be nice. Thanks.

Hey Cubsfan how about a Permit. They'll give you a hell-ova tussle. Tough to get near the boat! I know what you mean about being worn out. I spent over 40 minutes trying to land a 100 plus pound Goliath Grouper (we used to call them Jewfish) on twenty pound test mono! Got him in the boat, took pix and released as the law required. "Whew" I kept fishing but hoped nothing big got on for the rest of the day.