Outdoors

Captain's corner

Amberjack fishing in depths of 100 to 150 feet has been very consistent.

By STEVE PAPEN
Published December 5, 2006

What's hot: Amberjack fishing in depths of 100 to 150 feet has been very consistent. These bruisers are ranging from 15 to 30 pounds in the shallower depths, and 30 to 50 pounds on the deeper wrecks and springs. Take the time to secure a live well full of large baits such as pinfish or blue runners. In going for amberjack, it is best to anchor over the structure you plan to fish rather than drift. If you are on a drift and hook up, the school may follow the fish that is hooked and you will pull all of them off the spot, thus making them harder to catch.

Tactics: While live bait is preferred by most amberjack fishermen, artificial lures such as diamond jigs and large bucktail jigs work well. These lures should be dropped to the bottom and retrieved with large quick sweeps of the rod. Most of the time the jacks will take the jig on the fall. Slow trolling a live blue runner on a downrigger is also effective. Using your bottom machine, locate the depth where the fish are concentrated, then deploy the baits to that depth.

Tackle: Amberjack can be caught on many types. Most prefer large conventional reels such as a 4/0 or 6/0 loaded with at least 80-pound mono. But these fish can be caught on large spinning reels and even fly rods depending on the structure they are over. Heavier tackle that will wear the fish out much faster is suggested if you plan to catch and release.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 or www.fintasticinc.com.

[Last modified December 4, 2006, 23:17:44]