Steel Head Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I spent 2 days fishing in Florida and all I caught were Jack Crevalle. At first, I was extremely dissapointed but after the second Jack, I started to change my mind. This fish out-fights most other on a pound per pound basis. I caught them on jigs but I hear they are best fished with top-water lures. Do any of you have experience with this technique on this fish? What is the best way to do it? ------------------ So I'm a hard-head... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluggin2k1 Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I've never caught them on poppers, but you are right, they are geat fighters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianZ Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I hope my buddy Fish_Face jumps on this thread cause he gets them all the time like it was his job or something!!! I never really saw a Jack in a school that was a fussy eater but that may be just my experience, if they aint hittin on top and you know they are around they might be spooked or line shy. they hit husky jerks pretty well especially when "ripped" back stop and go... now that i come to think of it i dont ever remember getting a JC at nite...hmmm Fish Face ...where you at bub?? i know you aint workin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel_Karssies Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I have fished for the Jacks this fall in Florida with the long rod and tried surface flies. I used a small foam gurgler (color white) and moved it across an inlet to see what happened. I had seen some big Jacks coming in to the inlet so I figured I could experiment a bit. I had never fished with poppers or gurglers and had not much confidence that the fish would be interested in them. The opposite was the truth. I could not believe my eyes when the big Jacks would swim all the way to the surface to try to nail the fly. I only managed to hook one this way, I guess I was just to excited to set the hook instantly. Next time I will try poppers and gurglers when I encounter them in large numbers. The Jacks I encountered this fall where quit large and gave me a good workout on the fly rod. They sure a stubborn and won't quit easily. Below is a picture of one fish I fought for some time when it nailed my while fished with a fast sinking line in the inlet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I grew up fishing in FL and jacks are extremely aggressive. My favorite surface lure is a red and white Zara Spook filled with BB's (for distance) and buzzed quickly across the surface. They absolutely blow the doors off of them. I usually just left the last set of trebles on the lure as the others are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, half the fun is watching them blast the plug out of the water. Just about any surface plug will work, but something streamlined is more favorable than a chugger which can't be worked as quickly. When they are not coming to the surface, a blue or green backed 77M Mirrolure works pretty good and don't be surprised if a tarpon hits the Mirrolure either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris L Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 man I caught a number of them in Fla when I was out red fishing . Man can they make a bad day of fishing fantastic . I wasnt getting many reds ( 4 ) until we drifted into a school of jacks . The guide I had appologized for not getting many reds . I let him know that I had more fun with them sideways digging jacks . What a fish for its size ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPL Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 I've never, ever seen anything like this. I was buying bait, man-the name it escapes me, in Tampa last year from a dock B&T. It was right on the water. They were selling moderate to huge size shrimp. The owner said "let me show you this", my kids were with me as well. He hurled, by hand, a large shrimp into the middle of the marina bay. As soon as the shrimp left his hand, you could see a huge wake by the side of the dock and what looked like 6 torpedoes heading for the eventual place where the shrimp would hit the water. I'm telling you the madness that you would see when the shrimp hit the water was amazing!!! They were "tame" Jacks who stayed near the B&T. Right after the boil, the "torpedoes" could be seen heading back to dockside, IN SECONDS. The owner proceeded to give a little bucket of shrimp to my boys and they had a ball for 30 minutes!! Long-winded, sorry, but what amazed me was how they could see you throw the shrimp and how they could tell EXACTLY where the shrimp would hit the water. I tested this over and over, throwing as far as I could and in different places. THEY WHERE 100% DEAD ON EVERY TIME and nailing the bait almost BEFORE it hit the water. Amazing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 BrianZ, I have caught them at night, but only on live bait while snook fishing. Some of the very biggest jacks (30 - 40 pounds) that I have seen caught, were caught at night on live mullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mack Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 That must be common at B&T's in Florida. I witnessed the same thing at one in Marco Island. Throw some shrimp in the water right next to the outdoor shrimp tanks and a half dozen jacks rip them to shreds. My kids loved it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 in sept and oct they push past Cape Point at hatteras. You see them on tops tearing up bait in the early morning. Guys throw big 6 ounce pencil poppers at them. I know guys who have caught them, but I havent gotten one. they usually are inthe 30-40 pound class there. ------------------ John M johnm@stripersonline.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10x10 Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 They like yellow poppers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Powell Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 SOL #18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 ex-jersy boy...popper ... 1st week in oct just after daybreak they would run through the surf at the 'point' ------------------ derf [This message has been edited by derf (edited 12-20-2001).] derf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richs Posted December 20, 2001 Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 1st one I caught was on Hilton Head on a Atom popper. Didn't really know what I had, but felt much bigger pulling than it actually was (3lb.) No more skunks. Maybe you didn't hear about it, you been gone a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel Head Posted December 20, 2001 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2001 LOL, Dave. I think Caranx can help if he sees this thread. Remember, I need to know what top-water lures will be effective and how to work them. ------------------ So I'm a hard-head... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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