How to catch Yellowtail (Amberjack)
Seriola lalandi
Also known as kingfish (AU/NZ), hamachi.
Yellowtail amberjack are brutally strong reef and kelp predators of the Pacific and Southern oceans, a favorite of live-bait and jig anglers.
🏆 World record: The IGFA maintains an all-tackle world record for yellowtail amberjack, also called yellowtail kingfish, a powerful pelagic of temperate seas. IGFA records can change over time, so check igfa.org for the current figure. All records →
Where to find them
Kelp beds, reefs, pinnacles, and offshore structure
Season
Warm months; regional
Best baits & lures for Yellowtail (Amberjack)
Fly-line live bait around structure or drop and rip a knife jig. Turn their head fast or they will bury you in the reef.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Yellowtail (Amberjack) when conditions line up.
Ways to catch Yellowtail (Amberjack)
Catch to table: Yellowtail (Amberjack)
Also known as yellowtail or hamachi, this amberjack is an excellent table fish and a sushi favorite. Keep legal fish; smaller ones are cleaner and less likely to carry parasites than large greater amberjack.
Taste: Firm, rich, buttery flesh with a clean flavor, prized raw as hamachi. Meaty and versatile cooked as well.
Cleaning: Bleed and chill, then fillet and remove the bloodline; inspect larger fish for parasites and trim as needed.
How to cook it
- • Serve as hamachi sashimi or nigiri.
- • Grill or broil collars, a prized cut.
- • Sear steaks and finish with citrus.
Tip: Bleed and ice immediately; keep smaller fish for raw dishes and inspect larger ones for parasites.
Ikejime this fish for firmer, cleaner-tasting fillets and longer shelf life.
Where to catch Yellowtail (Amberjack)
Book a Yellowtail (Amberjack) charter
Guides and charter boats that target Yellowtail (Amberjack), by destination:
Catching Yellowtail (Amberjack): FAQ
What's the best bait for Yellowtail (Amberjack)?
Proven options include live bait (sardines, mackerel), knife jigs, poppers. Fly-line live bait around structure or drop and rip a knife jig. Turn their head fast or they will bury you in the reef.
When is the best time to catch Yellowtail (Amberjack)?
Warm months; regional. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Yellowtail (Amberjack)?
Look for Kelp beds, reefs, pinnacles, and offshore structure. Anglers target them at spots like San Diego, Los Angeles, Cape Town.
Anglers also target
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