Sea surface temperature guide
Greater Amberjack sea surface temperature guide.
- Seriola dumerili
- Bottom
- Agency-reported threshold data
Greater amberjack are the iconic deep-structure fight fish — wrecks, rigs, and ledges from the Carolinas through the Gulf. SST is less predictive for AJ than for pelagics; bottom structure is the key locator.
SST threshold gauge
The temperature ranges that matter.
The water temperature ranges that determine where greater amberjack hold and feed. Hard thresholds (dashed lines) are values outside which fish actively depart or become inactive.
Depth profile & SST reliability
Typical depth
60–500 feet
SST as locator
Moderate — SST is a partial signal
Amberjack hold over deep structure and respond to current edges. Surface SST is a weaker signal than for pelagics.
Current systems & structure
Amberjack key on bait pushed onto wrecks and rigs by current. Spring and fall current breaks concentrate fish.
Zone-by-zone calendar
Overlap charts by zone.
For each zone where greater amberjack are present, the chart overlays the zone's typical monthly SST range with the species' preferred and optimal ranges. Months where the bands overlap are when fish are in range.
South Atlantic
Best months
April, May, June, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 58–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 68–76°F | Peak |
| May | 72–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 76–84°F | Peak |
| Jul | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 72–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 60–68°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 64–72°F | Peak |
Best months
January, March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Feb | 64–70°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Apr | 72–78°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Nov | 70–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 66–72°F | Peak |
Gulf of Mexico
Best months
April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
March, April, May, October, November
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Outside |
| Mar | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Apr | 70–78°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 72–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 66–74°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Fishable |
Best months
March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62–70°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 62–68°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 66–72°F | Peak |
| Apr | 72–80°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Peak |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 64–72°F | Peak |
Best months
January, March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Feb | 64–70°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 68–74°F | Peak |
| Apr | 72–78°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Nov | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Dec | 66–74°F | Peak |
Best months
January, March, April, May, October, November, December
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Feb | 64–70°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 68–74°F | Peak |
| Apr | 72–78°F | Peak |
| May | 76–82°F | Peak |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Fishable |
| Jul | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Augnow | 80–86°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 74–82°F | Peak |
| Nov | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Dec | 66–74°F | Peak |
Conservation & regulations
GMFMC / SAFMC / NOAA
Overfished (Gulf) — under recovery plan. Closed seasons during spawning periods. Tight bag and size limits. Verify current rule before harvest.
Stock assessment source →Drop big jigs and live blue runners to wrecks, rigs, and reefs. Amberjack are aggressive — they'll hit anything that looks alive. Target current-facing edges of structure.
Sources
SST threshold data is summarized from agency and research sources. Year-to-year ocean conditions vary; verify current SST imagery before each trip.
See live SST for your offshore zone.
Bield: Fish overlays NOAA CoastWatch SST imagery on your chartplotter view, highlights the temperature breaks that match greater amberjack thresholds, and alerts you when your home zone hits the 70–78°F window.
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