Samson fish are tough customers. With their thick set shoulders and muscly body they punch well above their weight, and are definitely one of the hardest-fighting species we have here in our temperate waters. Samson fish are a member of the Seriola family – along with yellowtail kingfish, amberjacks and almaco jacks – all regarded as tough and dirty. Samson fish were named after the biblical figure of Samson who was celebrated for his herculean strength, and indeed any samson fish caught is a fight to remember.
I love targeting Samson fish; and not only because they fight hard but they smash jigs, lures and live baits with aggression. They’re also a challenging species to find with regularity, which adds to their appeal. Here in my home waters of South Australia we see reasonable numbers of Samson fish at certain times of the year, but they’re rarely easy to find and they demand some dedication for regular success. I have plenty of donut sessions, which makes success taste even sweeter when it comes around.
Our offshore waters of SA still play second fiddle to Western Australia though, which is undeniably the samson capital of the country. Sandgropers certainly
