Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Also known as Amberjack, Medregal, Coronado
Culinary Profile
Greater amberjack has a sweet, mild flavor.
Tender, firm, and delicate. The high oil content gives it a buttery texture.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Greater amberjack have a dark amber strip on their head, extending from their nose to their first dorsal (back) fin, which becomes more defined when the fish is excited or feeding. They have a brownish or bluish-grey back, a silvery-white belly, and an amber horizontal strip along the middle of their body. Juveniles have a yellow color and five or six dark vertical bars along the sides.
Biology
Greater amberjack can grow up to 6 feet long and live to be 17 years old. Adults can weigh up to 200 pounds, but are most commonly found to be up to 40 pounds. Females grow larger in size and live longer than males. Greater amberjack mature at about 3 to 4 years of age and spawn primarily from March to June on reefs and shipwrecks. A female can release between 18 and 59 million eggs during a single spawning season.
Where They Live
Range Greater amberjack are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the western Atlantic, they are found from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including the Gulf of America and the Caribbean. Habitat Juvenile greater amberjack school around mats of pelagic (open ocean) Sargassum in the Gulf of America. Sargassum is an algae that provides food and protection for juvenile fish and invertebrates in the open ocean.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh (except in April when fishery is closed) and frozen year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Virginia to Texas, including the U.S. Caribbean.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of greater amberjack totaled 500,000 pounds and were valued at approximately $1 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Electric and hydraulic reels and hand lines are used to catch most of the commercial harvest of greater amberjack. Recreational harvest is by hook-and-line. Greater amberjack are large trophy fish prized by anglers. In 2024, recreational anglers landed 2.6 million pounds of greater amberjack, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database .
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Greater Amberjack.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Greater Amberjack, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else is Greater Amberjack called?
Greater Amberjack is also marketed as Amberjack, Medregal, Coronado.
What does Greater Amberjack eat?
Greater amberjack can grow up to 6 feet long and live to be 17 years old. Adults can weigh up to 200 pounds, but are most commonly found to be up to 40 pounds. Females grow larger in size and live longer than males. Greater amberjack mature at about 3 to 4 years of age and spawn primarily from March to June on reefs and shipwrecks.
What is the stock status of Greater Amberjack?
In the South Atlantic, the stock is not overfished. In the Gulf of America, the stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
What is the texture of Greater Amberjack meat?
Tender, firm, and delicate. The high oil content gives it a buttery texture.
Sustainability Story
Although some populations are below target levels, U.S. wild-caught greater amberjack is still a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of greater amberjack: a Gulf of America stock and a South Atlantic stock. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Gulf of America stock is overfished (2021 stock assessment), but not subject to overfishing based on 2024 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
In the South Atlantic, the stock is not overfished. In the Gulf of America, the stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
In the South Atlantic and the Gulf of America, not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch greater amberjack rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because the gears used to catch greater amberjack are selective.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils manage the greater amberjack fishery. In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan : Fishermen must have a limited access snapper grouper permit to commercially harvest greater amberjack.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 7 values
Nutrient Facts (NOAA)
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.