A.H. Amberjack Hole. 61 degrees from end of jetties, 18.6 miles, depth of water 75 to 85 feet. This ground consists of a small area of heavy coral and rock formations. Ledges are short, 5 to 10 feet in height and lie in a North to South heading. The heavy concentration of amberjack was responsible for the name of this hole. Cuda, cobia, kingfish and dolphin are plentiful here. Good snapper and grouper fishing year round.
Charlie Hamaker, the JOSFC’s “Unofficial Historian” remembers that the A.H. was named for the club’s first President, Fred Morrow. At that time, J.O.S.F.C. stood for Jacksonville Outboard Sports Fishing Club.
The original name of this area was Peanut King’s Amberjack Hole. Peanut King was the name of Fred’s 20 foot Thunderbird and it was one of several that were in the club.
I can still recall the first time I ever saw a 20 ft. Thunderbird. It was decked out with twin 30 or 40 H.P. engines and it had to be the biggest thing afloat. I also remember the first time I ever rode in one. They were flat bottomed and about as rough as a square tire dune buggy in a rock pile.
By actual count, I am sure that if you had all the fish put into the Peanut King, you could supply Captain D’s for a year. Some of the earlier members were innovative and came up with some very interesting ways to catch fish. Imagine this, amberjack on a cane pole. Yep, the same way you would fish for specks in Crescent Lake. The only difference is the cane pole and live bait are larger. Visualize the action of having jacks all around the boat and laying out a live bait with a cane pole and you’ve got a picture of Fred and his crew. If that’s not enough, what about tarpon?
Fred and Ed Schugart tried this and actually hooked up a tarpon on a cane pole. The fish made one jump and the hook was thrown directly back at the boat. It passed between the two anglers, missing them by inches, and shattered the boat’s windshield.
In the early and mid sixties, amberjack were plentiful and big. Fred, Ed Schugart, Burt Clyborn and Wimpie Sutton set a record I predict will never be broken. Forty-two amberjack were tagged and released in one day of fishing. But the single fish that won a tournament for Fred and started the name of Peanut King’s Amberjack Hole was a 72 pound amberjack taken at “the Hole.”
Fred went through several boats after the Peanut King. There was the Ronnie J, Ronnie J II, Lady Yvonne and finally the Little Yvonne which he charters for river and jetty trips today.
