Help identify these fish!!!

[Twotems]

Friends of mine have been catching these fish in 200+ ft of water near structure here in West Africa. They second photo looks like an Amberjack but the first one, I'm not quite sure. Can any of you experts help??

[Deep C]

Dead


Rubberlips, aka sludgemudgeoon, aka Amberjack (Real Name)

[lilharcher]

Picture 1 - almaco jack given the pink color (close cousin to the Amberjack)?

[Twotems]

Amberjack, Almaco Jack. Any more ideas?

[Deep C]

They're Aj's... The first fish looks like it definately had some sun time. An almaco is indeed very similar however the second dorsal is far darker and more pronounced... WIthin the Aj family there are several subspecies, Banded rudderfish, Almaco, leaser andgreater, given the size these are greaters... They love structure. Wrecks, reefs or bumps.

[Twotems]

Thanks for the explanation Deep. Makes sense to me now.

[Roddy Hays]

They're a different species of AJ called Guinean Amberjack. These and another species called Vadigo used to be infrequent visitors to Madeira and the Canaries, along with their cousin the Greater Amberjack. As a rule, both of the strangers don't get nearly as big as the big AJ, and they can both be quite rosy in colour, the Vadigo especially. I don't have my photo library here unfortunately, so cannot post pics of them - needless to say they are both very edible and form substantial artesinal fisheries in the areas they regularly haunt.

You can probably find some info out on the web if you type in Guinean Amberjack.

[Deep C]

They're a different species of AJ called Guinean Amberjack. These and another species called Vadigo used to be infrequent visitors to Madeira and the Canaries, along with their cousin the Greater Amberjack. As a rule, both of the strangers don't get nearly as big as the big AJ, and they can both be quite rosy in colour, the Vadigo especially. I don't have my photo library here unfortunately, so cannot post pics of them - needless to say they are both very edible and form substantial artesinal fisheries in the areas they regularly haunt.

You can probably find some info out on the web if you type in Guinean Amberjack.

Rubberlips...

[capt. jakeg]

not sure but I know the IGFA opened up world record divisions last year for some of the african jacks .... May be line classes open still, and I may be worng.