Mangrove Jack Heaven

[dayoo]

I accompanied my fishing mate Frank (the fishing machine) to his favourite top secret mangrove jack fishing spot on Friday night. Frank fished this spot three weeks ago and caught 18 bream and 2 small jacks but lost many large jacks because he was only targeting bream.
This time we were targeting jacks with 15lb line, fresh mullet, stronger 9 foot rods and a good landing net.

We headed north of Brisbane and after a good drive arrived at the creek bank around 6pm on low tide. The area has many snags and first cast from the bank (we didn't have a boat) resulted in only a 5 minute wait before all hell broke loose with rod bending right down and nearly being ripped from the rod holder.

Over the next few hours 6 jacks were netted, 3 big bust offs, and 3 jacks managed to reach the snags. Most of the jacks seem to have an initial savage bite followed by an attack where the grab the bait and head for the snags. The secret in landing them is to be ready and have the rod in your hands before the second jack attack.

I cannot divulge the spot as I would be excommunicated and left to do my future fishing alone.

Attached are some shots of the jacks which all measured between 42 to 45cms and 1.2 to 1.5 kilos.

I had never been jack fishing before in an estuary and was amazed at the ferocity of the second attack and the subsequent struggle to avoid the net.

Cheers
Barry

[theclick]

Nice fish mate, but keep your head down for a bit

[yellahunter]

ripper session mate,

is it Nth qld or south east....?

well done

[dayoo]

Yellahunter,

All I can say is that its a creek between Double Island point and Brisbane.
Got to watch what I say as Frank might not take me again if I spill the beans.

Cheers
Barry

[Pistol_P]

oh ooo.....nice fish mate.....

but the jack boys will hate seeing all those dead fish.....

Still though you are entitled to take them....

Pete

[dayoo]

Pete

We don't target well known spots where the plastic jack boys have their fun and release the jacks so they can catch them again and again. Two of the jacks were mine and the other four were Franks which will only make one feed for his big family of six adults.

Cheers
Barry

[richieboy]

Some great Jacks. Well done on a fine result!

Richie

[Chalkandcheese]

you may have cleaned your snag out for a while!

[PiNpOiNt]

great fish
dont worry what anyone else says bout u should of chucked them back
they jkust jelous they cant pull quality fish
well done

[dayoo]

Chalk and cheese

The jacks will be replaced by more jacks within two weeks. Have a look at the video of the large school of jacks coming through the Gold Coast seaway on 29/11/2007 on Dave Downies web site www.nuggetfishing.com.au. This is occuring at this time of the year in all the river and bar entrances along the Queensland coast. We only keep enough for a feed. We could have stayed all night and really cleaned up.

Cheers
Barry

[Pistol_P]

Chalk and cheese

The jacks will be replaced by more jacks within two weeks. Have a look at the video of the large school of jacks coming through the Gold Coast seaway on 29/11/2007 on Dave Downies web site www.nuggetfishing.com.au (http://www.nuggetfishing.com.au). This is occuring at this time of the year in all the river and bar entrances along the Queensland coast. We only keep enough for a feed. We could have stayed all night and really cleaned up.

Cheers
Barry

Nothing wrong with taking a feed Barry,
I agree mate there are HEAPS of Jacks around.....There are STACKS of juvenile Jacks here at Noosa and everywhere else.

Pete

[blue_mako]

Hey mate.

Saw your haul at BCF this morning. Those were some nice Maori Cod you had with you as well, when and where did you get those and the little Hussar? I haven't heard a report of 6 decent Jacks in one night for quite some time though. Top effort. Hitting the banks Tuesday/Wednesday ;D . When are these bloody Marlin getting down here? Hopefully pick one up on the way out.

Is it just me or can't I find that video of that Jack school moving threw the Seaway? Would be good viewing.

Troy

[dayoo]

Troy
The video of the school of Jacks is on the lefthand side of the web site under the heading news see last dot point and click on it.
The Moari cod and other reefies were caught offshore by Frank on the following day (YESTERDAY).

Cheers
Barry

[nuggstar]

can i have just one of those on my line hehe i wish i was there, nice fish

[Gill]

Frank you are living up to that name Mate. Hard life you lead, fishing all the tme.

See you for the prawns this year mate.
Gill

[geoff72]

nice jacks mate,good stuff,your right about the big first hit themn the grab to thats for sure

[geoff72]

Just watched that video,looks like the jack population on the goldy is thriving,top little vid

[Dorado]

Well done you guys on some real quality fish there! That vid is awesome, thanks for the link!

Cheers,
Dorado

[childers]

must admit ,thats a big bag of jacks there mate ,what a cracker spot .