Saltwater · Year-round over deep structure; best spring through fall in the Gulf
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
A deep-water amberjack relative of the Gulf platforms, Florida reefs and Hawaii, split from greater amberjack by a dark diagonal band through the eye and very tall second dorsal and anal fin lobes. An honest naming note: some sources apply the Japanese name 'hira-masa' to this species, but hira-masa proper is the yellowtail amberjack, Seriola lalandi — the two are not the same fish and should not be merged.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Dark diagonal band runs through the eye from the snout to before the dorsal fin
- Very tall, sickle-shaped lobes on the second dorsal and anal fins, taller than in greater amberjack
- Longer dorsal-fin base and a deeper, more compressed body than greater amberjack
- Olive-brown to bluish back, silvery belly, fins often dark
- Juveniles show dark bars that fade with age
Habits
- Holds over deep reefs, wrecks and platform structure, often at mid-depth
- Feeds on small fish, squid and crustaceans around structure
- Usually solitary or in small groups as an adult
- Strong, stubborn fighter that pulls for the bottom when hooked
- Juveniles associate with floating debris and weed lines offshore
Distribution
Where to find them
- Oil platforms and deep wrecks off Louisiana
- Deep reefs off Texas and Florida's Atlantic coast
- Reef slopes and ledges off Hawaii and the Florida Keys
Where they live
How to catch them
Vertical jigging over deep structure Boat
Rig: Heavy jigging outfit, 5-9 oz vertical jig dropped over deep reefs, wrecks and oil-platform structure
Bait/lure: Vertical jigs
Key tip: Work the jig through the mid-depths above the structure, not only on the bottom — almacos often hold high.
Live bait dropped to mid-depth structure Boat
Rig: Conventional outfit, live baitfish on a weighted rig lowered to mid-depth over reefs, wrecks and platforms
Bait/lure: Live baitfish
Key tip: Mark the depth where fish show on the sounder and keep the bait right there — almacos rarely leave their level to chase.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Heavy 6.5-7 ft jigging rod
- Line: 50-80 lb braid with a 60-100 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Terminal: 5-9 oz vertical jigs, 6/0-9/0 hooks, heavy sinkers
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 24-36 in (61-91 cm), 10-20 lb (4.5-9 kg); large fish to about 48 in (122 cm) and 50 lb (23 kg) or more
On the table
Good — firm flesh rated highly fresh; larger fish are best checked for local advisories.
Similar species
Greater AmberjackGreater amberjack has much shorter second dorsal and anal lobes and a shorter dorsal-fin base; almaco has the dark eye band and very tall, sickle-shaped lobes
Banded RudderfishBanded rudderfish is smaller with bold bars as a juvenile and shorter fin lobes; almaco is larger, deeper-water and defined by the eye band and tall lobesRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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