Amberjack are powerful predatory fish found across various marine environments, including temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas worldwide. They are known for their strength and aggressive feeding habits. This article explores the natural diet of amberjack, examining the types of prey they consume and the environmental and biological factors that shape their feeding behaviors.
Common Prey Items
Adult amberjack are opportunistic predators, consuming a diverse range of marine organisms. Their primary diet consists of smaller fish, cephalopods like squid, and various crustaceans such as crabs. Fish prey often includes:
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Bigeye scad
- Mullet
- Pilchards
- Grunts
- Pinfish
- Sand perch
- Blue runners
- Cigar minnows
Squid are a significant component of their diet.
Environmental and Biological Influences on Diet
An amberjack’s diet changes significantly with its size and age. Young amberjack, typically found around floating sargassum mats, initially consume plankton and small invertebrates. As they grow to about 3 to 5 inches (8-12 cm), they transition to larger benthic and nektonic organisms. Once they reach approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in length, they become predominantly piscivorous, meaning their diet largely shifts to fish, and they tend to move into more coastal areas.
Habitat and location also play a substantial role in what amberjack eat. Adults commonly congregate around underwater structures like reefs, rocky outcrops, and shipwrecks at depths ranging from 60 to 240 feet, though they can be found as deep as 400 feet. Their diet in these areas reflects the available prey, often including reef-associated fish and invertebrates.
Seasonality influences the availability of prey and, consequently, the amberjack’s diet. During warmer months, typically spring and summer, amberjack may be found in shallower reefs and wrecks, feeding on the active baitfish in these areas. As water temperatures drop in fall and winter, they tend to move to deeper offshore reefs and structures, following their preferred baitfish and adapting their feeding to the deeper environment. Amberjack generally thrive in warmer waters, with optimal temperatures for their activity and feeding ranging from 68°F to 80°F (20°C to 26.7°C).
Connecting Diet to Successful Angling
Understanding the natural diet of amberjack is highly beneficial for anglers seeking to catch these strong fish. Anglers often select baits that closely mimic the amberjack’s preferred natural food sources, increasing their chances of a successful catch. Live bait is frequently the most effective option, as the movement and scent appeal strongly to these aggressive predators.
Common live baits include:
- Blue runners
- Pinfish
- Mullet
- Threadfin herring
- Menhaden
- Sardines
- Cigar minnows
Cut baits, such as frozen cigar minnows or herring, can also be effective. Beyond natural baits, artificial lures that imitate wounded or fleeing prey are popular. Heavy-duty jigs, including butterfly and vertical jigs, are widely used, along with spoons, jerkbaits, and plugs. These lures are often colored in silver, blue, or chartreuse to resemble baitfish.
Angling techniques further leverage knowledge of amberjack feeding behaviors. Vertical jigging, which involves rapidly jerking a heavy metal jig, mimics the erratic movements of distressed baitfish, triggering a predatory strike. Trolling with deep-diving plugs or live bait allows anglers to cover large areas and locate amberjack near offshore structures. Bottom fishing, where bait is presented near reefs and wrecks, targets amberjack in their preferred hunting grounds. Chumming, or creating a scent trail in the water, can also attract amberjack to the fishing area, sometimes even drawing them to the surface.