Almaco JackorGreater Amberjack
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Almaco Jack
Deep body, dramatically tall and curved front dorsal lobe, darker overall than an amberjack.
Almaco jack, next to greater amberjack: deeper body, tall sickle-shaped dorsal lobe.
Greater Amberjack
Dark band through the eye to the first dorsal; amber side stripe; 11 or fewer dorsal rays than almaco's tall sickle.
Greater amberjack, next to almaco jack: slimmer, lower dorsal lobe, stronger amber stripe.
Side by side
| Almaco Jack | Greater Amberjack | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Seriola rivoliana | Seriola dumerili |
| Also called | Almaco | AJ, Reef donkey |
| Waters | Nearshore | Nearshore |
| Heaviest state record | 60 lb 8 oz · North Carolina (2025) | 142.13 lb · Florida (1979) |
| On the table | Very good — better than its reputation. | Good; tail worms are common and harmless once cooked. |
| Rules of its own in | 9 states | 10 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 10 of 10 states with a rule for either. In Alabama, almaco jack is No size limit, 20-fish reef fish aggregate and greater amberjack is 34 in fork length minimum, 1 per person. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Almaco Jack: size · bag · season | Greater Amberjack: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit20-fish reef fish aggregateOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked | 34 in fork length minimum1 per personState waters follow federal Gulf season: 2026 open Sept 1 - Oct 13OpenAL MRD 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregateOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | 28 in fork length min1 per personOpen Jan-Mar and May-Dec (closed April)OpenFWC 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limitWithin 20-reef-fish aggregate (20 per person per day)Open year-roundOpenFederal rule (Gulf federal waters)NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked | 34 in fork length min1 per person2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-Oct 13OpenFWC 2026 · checked |
| Georgia | No size limit10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregateOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | 28 in fork length1 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked |
| Louisiana | No size limit20 per person in reef fish aggregateOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked | 34 in fork length1 per personOpen Sept. 1–Oct. 31, or until quota is metOpenLDWF 2026 · checked |
| Mississippi | No size limitNo individual limit (within 20-reef-fish aggregate)Open year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked | 34 in fork length minimum1 per personSep 1 – Oct 13, 2026OpenMS DMR 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | No size limit10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregateOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | 28 in fork length1 per person per dayClosed April 1–30 annually; open rest of yearOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked |
| South Carolina | No size limit20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one speciesOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked | 28 in fork length1/dayOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked |
| Texas | No size limitWithin 20-reef-fish aggregate (20 per person per day)Open year-roundOpenFederal rule (Gulf federal waters)NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked | 38 in total length1Open year-roundOpenTPWD 2026 · checked |
| Virginia | Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies. | 32 in min2 per personOpen year-roundOpenVMRC 2026 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, almaco jack or greater amberjack, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell almaco jack from greater amberjack?
Almaco Jack: Deep body, dramatically tall and curved front dorsal lobe, darker overall than an amberjack. Greater Amberjack: Dark band through the eye to the first dorsal; amber side stripe; 11 or fewer dorsal rays than almaco's tall sickle. Greater amberjack, next to almaco jack: slimmer, lower dorsal lobe, stronger amber stripe. Almaco jack, next to greater amberjack: deeper body, tall sickle-shaped dorsal lobe.
Which gets bigger, almaco jack or greater amberjack?
Greater Amberjack. The heaviest state record we hold is 142.13 lb in Florida; the heaviest almaco jack record is 60 lb 8 oz in North Carolina.
Which is better to eat, almaco jack or greater amberjack?
Almaco Jack: Very good — better than its reputation. Greater Amberjack: Good; tail worms are common and harmless once cooked.
Do almaco jack and greater amberjack have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 10 state rulebooks. Alabama: almaco jack No size limit, 20-fish reef fish aggregate, greater amberjack 34 in fork length minimum, 1 per person; Florida (Atlantic): almaco jack No size limit, 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate, greater amberjack 28 in fork length min, 1 per person; Florida (Gulf): almaco jack No size limit, Within 20-reef-fish aggregate (20 per person per day), greater amberjack 34 in fork length min, 1 per person; Georgia: almaco jack No size limit, 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate, greater amberjack 28 in fork length, 1 per person per day; Louisiana: almaco jack No size limit, 20 per person in reef fish aggregate, greater amberjack 34 in fork length, 1 per person; and more in the table on this page.