[jbrandons]

Do you have a link the only thing I can find shows noaa wants fed waters closed till Sept if I remember right

Here is what I remember from earlier in the year and on a search this morning it appears to be the same. The way I read it it would seem AJ season will be closed until August 1st of 2023:

• This action modifies the recreational greater amberjack fixed closed season to be August 1 – 31, 2022 and November 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023 (open September 1 - October 31, 2022).

Links: Effective July 25, 2022: Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Recreational Fixed Closed Season Modification. NOAA Fisheries Requests Public Comment).

I caught AJs twice in September, once on the CJ and tried for one on my October trip knowing it was closing on Halloween but no luck that trip.

 

[jbuyrum]

Here is what I remember from earlier in the year and on a search this morning it appears to be the same. The way I read it it would seem AJ season will be closed until August 1st of 2023:

• This action modifies the recreational greater amberjack fixed closed season to be August 1 – 31, 2022 and November 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023 (open September 1 - October 31, 2022).

Links: Effective July 25, 2022: Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Recreational Fixed Closed Season Modification. NOAA Fisheries Requests Public Comment).

I caught AJs twice in September, once on the CJ and tried for one on my October trip knowing it was closing on Halloween but no luck that trip.

Booo I got my hopes up thinking I misread and I was going to get some aj action come may

 

[jbrandons]

Well, it's been my experience they often open up a 'short' season, like for a month or so outside of what is posted. We could get lucky.

 

[Mangochas]

Now that i can't sell them if i never caught one again it would be too soon. I had my share to last a 100 lifetimes. I did like eating the smaller jacks under 10lbs when you could keep them small. I have had overnite trips were i caught 600lbs of jacks. It was crazy back in the day.

 

[Palomarknot]

AJ 's are elusive, can't catch them for nothing. Case in point, that last trip, freeline a grunt, nothing. Weighted a grunt down about 30ft off the bottom, nothing.
The guy next to me with his son, catches a nice 30lb plus one on squid.
Just jinxed at catching AJ's besides a little one here and there.

 

[jbrandons]

I caught one first week of September on a live blue runner when five of us went out on a 12 private charter. Everyone on the boat caught one after the other for a limit. Then when I went on the CJ mid September people were catching them dropping live baitfish back down to the bottom so on the second day I was fishing two small pieces of squid trying to hook a baitfish for that purpose when I caught my PB AJ which was very surprising to me fishing such a small piece of squid.

 

[Mangochas]

AJ 's are elusive, can't catch them for nothing. Case in point, that last trip, freeline a grunt, nothing. Weighted a grunt down about 30ft off the bottom, nothing.
The guy next to me with his son, catches a nice 30lb plus one on squid.
Just jinxed at catching AJ's besides a little one here and there.

Try a diamond jig. That is how i got most of mine. When we fished the elbow in 180ft a nice size live beasty liner worked good on big jacks.

 

[Mangochas]

I caught one first week of September on a live blue runner when five of us went out on a 12 private charter. Everyone on the boat caught one after the other for a limit. Then when I went on the CJ mid September people were catching them dropping live baitfish back down to the bottom so on the second day I was fishing two small pieces of squid trying to hook a baitfish for that purpose when I caught my PB AJ which was very surprising to me fishing such a small piece of squid.

I have caught jacks using the same bait on porgy rigs. I think i had hook a small fish and the jack got it.

 

[Littlefish]

AJ 's are elusive, can't catch them for nothing. Case in point, that last trip, freeline a grunt, nothing. Weighted a grunt down about 30ft off the bottom, nothing.
The guy next to me with his son, catches a nice 30lb plus one on squid.
Just jinxed at catching AJ's besides a little one here and there.

I feel your pain, never have caught a keeper yet….

 

[jbuyrum]

i just booked a trip on march 23 with a friend

 

[jbrandons]

Eight days out from our first trip of 2023! Anyone else on the CJ for the 26 & 27?

 

[jbuyrum]

man im 2 months out from my first trip this year

 

[Palomarknot]

Not on deck till February 16th, do foresee going 3 for 3 with a couple RBI's in the mix. I'm ready, about as ready as can be. Bloody decks await....

 

[jbrandons]

I'm on that Feb 16th trip also. Hell, I booked one each month thru April and three in May. I figure two of those will get weathered out so trying to make sure I have back up plans. Two of my trips in May are four days in a row with Sat Sun on CJ and the next day Mon Tue on NB. Death or Glory boys!

 

[Palomarknot]

What dates you got wit Capt Matt, I think you're on the May 18th I believe, its booked full already.

 

[jbrandons]

I'm on NB May 15-16, 29-30 and CJ 27-28. But I fully expect at least one of those to get cancelled. But if by some miracle they don't I'll get three trips in before they stop running them until restarting in the fall.

 

[Palomarknot]

Nice
Be on that 27th trip as well, im bringing my girlfriend out on that one, she's pumped up for it. Would not listen to me about she should do a 12hr first, wants to catch a Tuna and says im going Big or nothing at all. At a 108 pounds she's gonna her hands full, lol, jesus....

 

[jbrandons]

Anyone looked at the weather for next week? Building to 7-10 by Tuesday night. Ouch.

 

[jbuyrum]

Do they ever shift trips a day or two either way like new buc for weather.

 

[jbrandons]

Yes but there was no place to shift this trip. So we're onboard now getting ready to sail!