Species guide · North Carolina
Greater amberjack fishing in North Carolina
Seriola dumerili, an offshore species also called AJ, amberjack and reef donkey. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM at 55, one of 9 North Carolina bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Apr to Jun. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Nov.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Wrecks, towers and Gulf Stream ledges from Northeast Florida to Cape Hatteras. Regulatory: South Atlantic closes commercial harvest in April; check SAFMC for recreational rules.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's greater amberjack score this hour.
Best window today 5-9 PM (60) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 PM (61) · 7 named spots
Best window today 6-9 AM (63) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (63) · 49 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (56) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (56) · 1 named spot
Best window today 5-8 PM (55) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 5 PM (56) · 75 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (57) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 PM (59) · 260 named spots
Best window today 6-10 AM (58) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (58) · 21 named spots
Best window today 6-10 AM (58) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (58) · 26 named spots
Best window today 1-10 PM (56) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (58) · 331 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (55) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (55) · 134 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 64°F to 86°F, best between 68°F and 80°F.
- Water depth
- 50 to 300 ft of water.
- Structure
- Wreck, reef, pinnacle, ledge and bank, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Tide stage matters less than current offshore. Current running across a wreck or rig tends to hold fish on the up-current side, and dead-slack water often slows the bite.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Amberjack school around wrecks, oil rigs, towers and high-relief reefs in 60 to 250 feet, often suspended well above the bottom. Drop a live blue runner or work a heavy jig through the school, then pump hard, because a big AJ runs straight back into the structure. Heavy conventional gear with 50 to 80 pound line is standard.
- Methods
- vertical jigging, live bait fishing, speed jigging, bottom fishing
- Lures
- speed jigs, butterfly jigs, large bucktail jigs, diamond jigs, topwater poppers
- Bait
- live blue runners, live cigar minnows, hardtails, live pinfish, bonito strips
Regulations
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Sep 19, 2026.
No reviewed greater amberjack rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Atlantic croaker
- Atlantic tarpon
- Crevalle jack
- Gray snapper
- King mackerel
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spot
- Spotted seatrout
- Summer flounder
- Black drum
- Black sea bass
- Cobia
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Gray triggerfish
- Little tunny
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Red snapper
- Sheepshead
- Spanish mackerel
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Bluefish
- Sailfish
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Striped bass