Greater amberjackin Florida (Gulf)
Seriola dumerili
Also called AJ, Reef donkey.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for greater amberjack in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Beyond 9 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 9-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Season set annually by quota projection; 43-day 2026 season confirmed by NOAA bulletin.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater amberjackThis page. | 34 in fork length min | 1 per person | 2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-Oct 13 |
| Almaco jackDeeper body, tall sickle-shaped dorsal lobe.Tell them apart | No size limit | Within 20-reef-fish aggregate (20 per person per day) | Open year-round |
| Banded rudderfishJuvenile bars; small adults with tail-tip white.Tell them apart | 14-22 in fork length slot | 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined) | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
142.13 lb, Islamorada, 1979. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Dark band through the eye to the first dorsal; amber side stripe; 11 or fewer dorsal rays than almaco's tall sickle. More on the greater amberjack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Greater amberjack in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a greater amberjack in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appGreater amberjack in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for greater amberjack in Florida (Gulf)?
34 in fork length min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many greater amberjack can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
1 per person.
When is greater amberjack season in Florida (Gulf)?
2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-Oct 13. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record greater amberjack?
142.13 lb, Islamorada (1979).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) greater amberjack rule?
Source: FWC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.