Amberjack question

papio · 03-21-2008, 09:37 AM

Several years ago I fish on a partyboat and I was told by the deckhands I couldn't use spinning tackle for Amberjack because they were inferior to coventionals. One deckhand just about guaranteed I would lose a fish and the fleeing AJ would take the rest of the pack out of the area. Needless to say, I ignored them and went on to bag two bragging size fish while one AJ was lost on a conventional

My question is has anyone experience or find that to be true that a lost fleeing AJ will disperse the school?

Ksong, you recently returned from successful Amberjack trip in NC. Did u guys lose any fish? And if so, did u lose the school? I've never seen it - not yet anyway.

Minnow · 03-21-2008, 10:34 AM

I heard the same thing on party boats and I don't think it's 100% true but it could be true since they spend more time on the water than us weekend warriors.

Few years back, I was on the trip to the Garden aboard the Possession Limit and we caught few big AJ and release it. I lost few fish on 50lb test and we continued to catch AJ. JMO

ksong · 03-21-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papio

Several years ago I fish on a partyboat and I was told by the deckhands I couldn't use spinning tackle for Amberjack because they were inferior to coventionals. One deckhand just about guaranteed I would lose a fish and the fleeing AJ would take the rest of the pack out of the area. Needless to say, I ignored them and went on to bag two bragging size fish while one AJ was lost on a conventional

My question is has anyone experience or find that to be true that a lost fleeing AJ will disperse the school?

Ksong, you recently returned from successful Amberjack trip in NC. Did u guys lose any fish? And if so, did u lose the school? I've never seen it - not yet anyway.

When I filleted fluke at the dock of a marina in Rhode Island, I saw school of striped bass eating skins I threw. So I hooked a piece of skin and threw to them. They rushed to my skinned hook and I caught and released couple of bass and lost couple. Then they just disappeared and never came back again.

One of tuna party boat in our area asks everybody to clean lines out of water when a guy hook a tuna first believing that all school of tuna go if the first one is lost. However it is extreme case as school of tuna come and go.
Once they are in feeding frenzy, I don't think it matters.

BretABaker · 03-21-2008, 11:27 AM

If you are around structure, I would doubt they'd 'leave' since the structure is their protection - maybe just hang out closer to the rig/wreck, etc.

i did not think AJs were big school fish, but i could be wrong.

gman · 03-21-2008, 01:32 PM

if someone stuck i hook in my oreo cookie bet your ass I would be running away if that thing pulled out ha ha ha

BretABaker · 03-21-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman

if someone stuck i hook in my oreo cookie bet your ass I would be running away if that thing pulled out ha ha ha

hahaha

Ragman · 03-22-2008, 11:53 AM

Great question papio!

Though it's just anecdotal, I've experienced on two different trips the AJ bite completely stopping once what was believed to be an AJ was hooked then broken off (jigs).

Capt. Frank has told me he believes that losing an AJ will shut off the bite as he's witnessed it during different trips.

STx Fisherman · 03-22-2008, 12:59 PM

I would guess that a frenzied AJ may spook the others whether you catch and land the fish or not. Partyboat captains and deckhands have experience and some have some superstitious beliefs when it comes to fishing.

In Puerto Vallarta, we were told not to wear our fighting belts until we had a fish on the line....bad luck if you do. I'm pretty easy going about things and follow the wishes of a captain. On my boat....fighting belts will be on and ready to go.

03-21-2008, 09:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
papio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio, Tx. V Posts: 223	Amberjack question Several years ago I fish on a partyboat and I was told by the deckhands I couldn't use spinning tackle for Amberjack because they were inferior to coventionals. One deckhand just about guaranteed I would lose a fish and the fleeing AJ would take the rest of the pack out of the area. Needless to say, I ignored them and went on to bag two bragging size fish while one AJ was lost on a conventional My question is has anyone experience or find that to be true that a lost fleeing AJ will disperse the school? Ksong, you recently returned from successful Amberjack trip in NC. Did u guys lose any fish? And if so, did u lose the school? I've never seen it - not yet anyway.

03-22-2008, 11:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ragman Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 924	Great question papio! Though it's just anecdotal, I've experienced on two different trips the AJ bite completely stopping once what was believed to be an AJ was hooked then broken off (jigs). Capt. Frank has told me he believes that losing an AJ will shut off the bite as he's witnessed it during different trips. __________________ Tom www.oceantackle.net *Go Hard or Go Home!*

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03-21-2008, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Minnow Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richardson Posts: 1,180	I heard the same thing on party boats and I don't think it's 100% true but it could be true since they spend more time on the water than us weekend warriors. Few years back, I was on the trip to the Garden aboard the Possession Limit and we caught few big AJ and release it. I lost few fish on 50lb test and we continued to catch AJ. JMO

03-21-2008, 11:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
BretABaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 1,080	If you are around structure, I would doubt they'd 'leave' since the structure is their protection - maybe just hang out closer to the rig/wreck, etc. i did not think AJs were big school fish, but i could be wrong.

03-21-2008, 01:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,080	if someone stuck i hook in my oreo cookie bet your ass I would be running away if that thing pulled out ha ha ha

03-22-2008, 12:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
STx Fisherman Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 599	I would guess that a frenzied AJ may spook the others whether you catch and land the fish or not. Partyboat captains and deckhands have experience and some have some superstitious beliefs when it comes to fishing. In Puerto Vallarta, we were told not to wear our fighting belts until we had a fish on the line....bad luck if you do. I'm pretty easy going about things and follow the wishes of a captain. On my boat....fighting belts will be on and ready to go.

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