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Fishing Report - Sight Casting for Jack Crevalle
By:
Penn Reels Pro Fishing Guide - Capt. Richie Lott
If
you could rate fish with a bad attitude, Jack’s would
be on top of your brutality list. These copper and yellow
giants roam the sounds and rivers all summer long just
looking for something to kill, simply because they can.
On
the Georgia and North Florida Coast, we notice the bigger
Jacks showing during summer months for the most part and
sometimes into very early fall inour area. These fish
are so brutal, they are often mistaken for tarpon on their
initial hook-up and run. On lighter tackle, the larger
Jacks will dump a reel that isn't fit for the task, no
question. Some of these fish are up to 30 pounds and will
run you all over the bay chasing them on light tackle.
The
most exciting method used to target these larger Jack
Crevalle, is sight casting with a top water plug. If it
floats in front of them, they will eat it simply because
it’s in their way, just like a Barracuda slaps at
a tube lure. With an attitude!
The
best tips on finding Jacks depend on several different
conditions. The first and most important part of the equation
is tide. The middle of the flood all the way up to slack
high water is normally prime time to sight cast to these
fish. The further the tide floods, the further into the
sounds the Jack Crevalle will travel with the bait. The
bait can be glass minnows, menhaden, or even mullet. They
will kill anything that gets in their path.
The
second condition is wind speed, but not necessarily wind
direction. Basically, the calmer the water, the better
the sight fishing for Jacks will be. I have noticed on
rougher days the schools will go unnoticed but I would
still be catching Jacks while using Tarpon tactics. Slick
calm conditions will always be optimal for sighting Jacks
from July – September.
The
third factor in finding Jack Crevalle is to know what
you’re looking for. Jacks will normally be in schools
of 20 – 50 fish running through random bait schools
of various types through the sounds and shipping channels.
Look for the tails of the fish zig zagging through the
water very slowly. If the Jacks are feeding on a bait
school, they are much easier to spot as the gulls will
be all over the top of the school snatching what they
leave behind. When you see birds flying erratic and diving
and the water looks like cinder blocks falling from a
helicopter, you have found your target. Normally, you
will not find any similarities from one school to the
next as far as swimming direction. They're simply looking
for a kill.
The
key factor in catching Jack Crevalle is boat position
in relation to the school. Position your boat with the
bow facing the school to make your cast. You will have
to get really close to spook a jack when he is on the
prowl. Stay about 20 yards off to give yourself plenty
of time for casting errors. Land your lure of choice far
past the school and quickly retrieve it back to the fish
leading the rest. I like to get it close then begin to
pop the lure and create a bit of surface commotion to
get their attention. About ninety percent of the time
two or three fish will strike at the lure and miss, but
normally some of the trailing fish will take it.
If
you make a bad cast, be prepared to move quickly as the
jack fish will speed up as the boat approaches. If the
jacks happen to spook, stay still and don’t start
your engine. They will surface again 50 or 60 yards from
the boat and at that time you can move back on the school.
If
at all possible, use a medium weight-spinning outfit capable
of holding 250 yards of 15 or 20 pound braided line. Spinning
outfits will normally outcast anything else when it comes
to distance casting for Jack Crevalle. For your leader,
graduate from your main line (no swivels) up to 30 and
then 50 pound. Tie a loop knot on your lure instead of
a clinch knot to give your lure a more natural presentation.
The Lure doesn’t really matter much as long as it
floats.
You
will know when you hook up with a Jack Crevalle. He will
do his best to stay with the school, and when he realizes
he is restricted, be prepared for the most brutal battle
you have ever encountered on rod and reel with a 20 –
30 pound fish!
When
and if you land a jack fish, wear gloves of some sort
to pick up the fish as they are slimy. You can bring the
fish in the boat by holding him firmly above the tail
or with a large landing net. They are normally gentle
and tired by the time you land them, so the angler is
not in too much danger of having a ballistic fish on board.
When removing your lure, lay the fish flat in the bottom
of your boat and press firmly on the forward part of the
body so he doesn’t shake a treble hook into your
hand or face.
Jacks
are not much good on the dinner table, so catch and release
is very important. Releasing Jack Crevalle properly is
easily done as these fish are pretty darn hearty. Use
your gloves to hold the dorsal fin or the belly of the
fish just beneath the water to submerge the gills. Drop
your boat in gear to create a decent flow through the
gills and he will dive right out of your hands. Practice
catch and release with Jack Crevalle as they are no good
on the dinner table, but offer anglers a super brutal
battle on light tackle.
Tight
Lines,
Capt.
Richie Lott
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www.charterfish.com
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