Key West Almaco Jack

The Basics

The Almaco jack is a very popular fish native to Key West. Often thought to be an amberjack with a large, thick body, the Almaco jack is a dark game fish with a longer, flatter body. The anal and dorsal fins extend far and curve into a sickle shape. The rays along the Almaco jack's dorsal fins are more than twice the length of the dorsal spines. They can reach up to 40 inches long and over 130 pounds in weight. The Almaco jack is characterized by its rich, amber-colored body and dark brown stripes while its belly is a light purple color.

What's Unique and How They Feed

A pelagic species, or species that floats with the current of the ocean, the Almaco jack are found off the coast of reefs, usually in packs. They are more frequently found in the depths of wrecks than other jack species and will swim down to 115 feet. Almaco jacks rub against scuba divers, thinking they are sharks, to remove parasites from their bodies.

How We Get Them

Found in deep wrecks, the Almaco Jack can be drawn with live baits that move a lot. They are resilient fighters and require skill to reel in. While they are delicious when broiled, they often carry tapeworms. Flesh containing tapeworms can be removed without having to throw out the entire fish. A second risk associated with Almaco jacks is ciguatera poisoning, which causes nausea and potentially numbness and ataxia.