Big, powerful jack with an amber lateral stripe and a dark diagonal 'bandit mask' through the eye. Galveston fish commonly 20-50 lb, with 60-80+ lb bruisers on deep rigs and banks.
WhenBest during the annually-announced recreational season - OPEN Sep 1-Oct 14, 2026. They bite aggressively all day around structure on calm offshore days.WhereWrecks, deep rigs, floaters, and offshore banks, typically 120-300+ ft; they suspend over and around high-relief structure. Nearshore rigs hold smaller 'firecracker' AJs.HowDrop or freeline big live baits near the structure, or work heavy vertical/speed jigs - AJs famously smash a fast-retrieved jig ('yo-yo' it). Once hooked, pull hard to keep them off the structure.BehaviorAggressive, schooling open-structure predators that patrol and suspend around rigs/wrecks, crushing baitfish; they respond hard to live bait and fast-moving jigs.The fightThe 'reef donkey' nickname is earned - dogged, unrelenting bottom-oriented power that tests your back and gear; arguably the hardest-pulling fish on many Galveston trips.
Baits that work
Large live blue runners, hardtails, pinfish, cigar minnows
Big cut bait
Heavy speed/vertical jigs (butterfly, knife jigs)
Tackle
Rod & reelHeavy conventional or heavy jigging outfit (50-80 lb class), 5.5-6.5 ftLine65-100 lb braidLeader80-150 lb fluoro/monoTerminalNon-offset circle hooks 8/0-11/0 for bait - required for reef fish in Gulf federal waters; strong assist/single hooks on jigsRigLive-bait knocker/fish-finder rig with 4-16 oz; or heavy speed jig direct to leader
The bait clock
☀ DawnLive hardtail (blue runner) dropped to the wreck
AJs are most aggressive early before boats pound the spot.
☼ MiddayLive hardtail/pinfish or heavy vertical jig
Reef donkeys eat all day over wrecks and platforms; the school's mood beats the clock.
☾ DuskLive bait or knife jig worked fast
A late-day reaction bite for fish suspended over structure.
[{'months': [8, 9, 10], 'note': 'Check season openings; fall windows focus effort on mid-depth wrecks.'}]
Structure and season regulations dictate this fishery; time of day is a minor edge.
Greater AJ: elongated body, short first rays on the second dorsal, a dark band through the eye to the dorsal origin. Almaco: deep body with a tall, sickle-shaped second dorsal lobe. AJ has a federal season and a fork-length minimum; almaco has neither.
Handling & releaseSubject to barotrauma from deep structure. Use a descending device or venting tool per the DESCEND Act; do not puncture the stomach. Given the short season, release fish healthy - big AJs need support and quick recompression.On the tableFirm, meaty white flesh; excellent smoked, grilled, or as fish dip. Larger AJs frequently carry harmless (when cooked) parasitic worms; be aware of ciguatera risk in very large reef fish.As baitOccasionally - smaller cut AJ used as bait, but usually kept or released.
The bar to beat
Texas state record
133.0 lb · 68.0″ — Tricia Conner
Gulf of Mexico, TX, 2019
World record
163.13 lb — Tadashi Yamanaka
Zenisu, off Tokyo, Japan, 2015
Records as compiled in the IronJetty guide (Aug 2026) — verify current marks with TPWD records / IGFA. World record 163 lb 2 oz.
