Amberjack can live to be 12 years old and reach weights of over 190 pounds. The current world record is a 155-pounder caught off Bermuda in 1981. A 149-pound greater amberjack was studied off the coast of Louisiana in 1996. AJs are pelagic spawners. Most spawning activity occurs from April through July.
Females tend to be longer and heavier in all age groups.
Some researchers have determined that the females normally live longer than the males. All fish over 9 years old tend to be females. But none of this was important to the young fisherman. It was the fighting reputation of the fish that caused him to seek out Capt. The next morning, Ware was smiling as the young man climbed aboard the Capt.