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Finsonpins · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:22 am Post subject: Can't catch JACK!

So i've been fishing PINS for several years now and have had mild success catching all of the major species, but I have NEVER caught a Jack. I usually hang a little past the 4wd sign and typically soak live finger mullet, shrimp,fishbites, throw spoons/topwaters and have never even hooked up to one. Am I not far enough down the beach? Is there some insight that anyone could provide? TIA!

Skillzzz9 · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 9:35 am Post subject:

Mid March through mid April is the easiest time to spot them. They get in huge schools and are migrating North. Just drive and look for birds and usually that time of year it is Jacks.
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ROBDOG · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:38 am Post subject:

We were down PINS Oct. 16th and 17th and caught them on topwaters and finger mullet. We just found a good spot to fish and they ended up showing up in the morning. I have also caught several just south of Bob Hall fishing in the afternoons for trout. A couple of months ago my son and I found a school of big jacks running the King Ranch Shoreline. The ones we caught a couple of weeks ago were right in the wade gut chasing bait. So I guess I am saying you don't need to be way down the beach, not necessarily very deep and they aren't that finicky. My strategy is I fish as much as my wife and my job will allow, and eventually I end up getting lucky.

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Now through about the first week of December (depending upon how cold it gets) is the best time. Year after year Nick Meyer goes out on Thanksgiving Day chasing them. The beach is empty and since he's a Brit it's no big deal to miss Turkey Day at home. Smile

March and April can be good too but often times they migrate further offshore heading back north. They often tease us at the Big Shell Cleanup in March. Last year I think they showed before February ended.
Go early and watch for birds and all hell breaking loose! Very Happy

. My Saltwater angler article next week is all about Jacks.

Skipjack · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 11:50 am Post subject:

Seems like I always start looking for them in the waves around the 20's and south. I've had a lot of success finding them in the early morning hours between 6:00AM and 9:00AM. After that it seems to get pretty difficult to catch any jacks.

Another good sign in Brown Pelicans. They seem to be the jackfish beacons of the beach. Brown Pelicans diving into the water is usually a sure sign that jacks are in the area and deserve a look or two. Not always successful but more times than not the brown pelicans have located the jacks for me.

Keep in mind jack crevalle are pelagic species and cover a lot of water very swiftly. Your most success will be cruising the beach to find them. Occasionally you will get lucky and end up with them right in front of your camp when you wake up in the morning but they will be gone soon cruising down the beach.
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Finsonpins · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks to everyone who chimed in! I will be taking my new found knowledge to the beach saturday morning and will return (win or lose) with a picture report.

Bluffer · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:27 am Post subject:

Why would you want to catch them. Shark bait? Test your reel?
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ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

Haha, couldnt you say the same for tarpon? why would you want to catch tarpon? can't even use them for bait? Trash fish if you ask me.
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Finsonpins · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:14 am Post subject:

Stuck in SA · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:57 am Post subject:

I havent caught an 8 lb hard head and havent started targeting them! LOL Just keep at it. they are a lot of fun especially when your not expecting to hook one. I caught one on 12 lb line and i kicked my but for bout an hour before it cut me off.
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Finsonpins · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:17 am Post subject:

HighTide · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject:

Check out Billy Sandifer's "Best Surf Time" chart for the year. He indicates that November is best, with April, May, & June being "Good."

Go all the way to the bottom of the page:

http://www.billysandifer.com/reports.htm#Best_Time_For_Species
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jeff89 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 183

30lb flouro is fine
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topdog15 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:50 am Post subject:

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: