Samson Fish & Amberjack Jigging
Samson fish and amberjack are among Australia's hardest fighting reef species, notorious for diving into structure and breaking tackle on the initial run. These powerful fish are targeted primarily in WA and Queensland waters using speed jigs and slow-pitch jigs worked over rocky pinnacles, bomboras and offshore reefs from 30 to 100 metres depth.
Target Species
Fishing Tips
- 1
Samson fish and amberjack are brutally powerful — use PE 4–6 braid, a 150–200 lb fluorocarbon leader, and a heavy jigging rod rated to 300 g. Light tackle will not survive the first run into the reef.
- 2
Speed jig by winding as fast as you can — samson fish in particular respond to very fast, erratic presentations. Work a 150–250 g assist-rigged knife jig from bottom to mid-water on repeated fast lifts.
- 3
Position the boat uptide of the pinnacle and drift the jig through the strike zone — the uptide side of a rocky peak is where samson fish ambush baitfish carried over the top by current.
- 4
If speed jigging produces no result, switch to a slow-pitch butterfly jig worked on the fall — larger fish sometimes prefer the flutter action, especially when the current slackens at tide change.
- 5
Set your drag extremely tight before the lure hits the bottom — you have about one second after a samson fish strikes before it reaches the reef. A loose drag means a bust-off every time.
Gear Setup
Amberjack (Samson Fish)
- Rod
- PE4–6, 6–7ft heavy jig rod or slow-pitch rod
- Reel
- 8000–14000 heavy spinning (Shimano Stella SW, Ocea Jigger 2000HG overhead for jigging)
- Main Line
- PE4–6 (40–60lb braid)
- Leader
- 80–100lb fluorocarbon
- Lures / Terminal
- Slow-pitch jigs 150–300g, vertical jigs 100–250g, live bait on 6/0–8/0 circle hooks
- Drag Setting
- 8–12kg
Found over offshore reefs and seamounts in NSW and southern QLD