Lesser Amberjack
Seriola fasciata
How to tell it
Smallest amberjack; eye stripe ends before the dorsal, big eye.
- Not a greater amberjack? That one eye stripe runs into the first dorsal. (Greater Amberjack)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14-22 in fork length slot | 20-fish reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 14-22 in fork length slot | 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 14-22 in fork length slot | 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | slot 14–22 in fork length | 5 per person in aggregate with banded rudderfish | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 14–22 in fork length slot | 5 per person per day (combined with Banded Rudderfish) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | 14-22 in fork length slot | 5-fish jacks aggregate (with banded rudderfish) | Open year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 lb 3.2 oz | 2023 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 5 lb 8 oz | 2004 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good.
In the app
Point the camera at a lesser amberjack and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about lesser amberjack
What is the size limit for lesser amberjack?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 14-22 in fork length slot; Florida (Atlantic): 14-22 in fork length slot; Florida (Gulf): 14-22 in fork length slot; Louisiana: slot 14–22 in fork length; Mississippi: 14–22 in fork length slot; Texas: 14-22 in fork length slot.
How many lesser amberjack can you keep?
Alabama: 20-fish reef fish aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined); Florida (Gulf): 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined); Georgia: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; Louisiana: 5 per person in aggregate with banded rudderfish; Mississippi: 5 per person per day (combined with Banded Rudderfish); North Carolina: 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species; and more in the table above.
How do you tell lesser amberjack from greater amberjack?
Lesser Amberjack has this: Smallest amberjack; eye stripe ends before the dorsal, big eye.. Greater Amberjack eye stripe runs into the first dorsal.
What is the record lesser amberjack?
5 lb 8 oz in Mississippi (2004). Other states’ records are in the table.