Sp Jack help???

[chewy01]

Hi everyone,
Im just chasing any help on getting started on softies for jacks.mostly i get mine on hardbodys during the day over BIG shallow rock bars. To extract them i have to use 8kg blade with 20lb briad which im guessing is too heavy for soft plastics.I have a 3/5 kg raider which i have for sp flathead but will it be too light for these jacks.I run 55 lb leader also which will be too heavy and only have a box full of snapbacks with 1/4 oz 5/0 jigheads. Is a darker colour beta at night?I really would appreciate any help.I have a few spots to try for them in hervey bay but am at a loss.Also how do the "thanks"appear in the bottom of the post?

[Why-ting]

Depends on what structure im fishing but the heaviest leader i go for jacks is about 30lb. some of my fav plackies would be the powerbait 140mm shrimp in tequila gold, natural pearl. some of the gulp pogys and 4-5in gulp minnows. Squidgie flick baits and ecogear grass minnows also go alright.

I like a slow presentation with a 1/4 being the heavy end of the scale for jigheads. i would use 1/12 or 1/8 with my bigger lures just to keep it in thier face a bit longer.

Whytey.

PS Use quality jigheads, nothing worse than casting for ages only to have your hook straighten on a good fish.

[chewy01]

Thanks mate'
Ill go have a grab a packet of each and have a go this weekend weather allowing.I only use tt heads so i hope these are ok.i will just keep my ears open for bait scattering and hope for the best.I use a loop knot for softies for flathead. i guess this will be ok for jacks.Thanks for the heads up.working out this stuff is halfthe battle. A nights fishig is beta than always beta than sitting in front of the idiot box
Cheers again,chewy...

[chief 1]

I use powerbait 140mm shrimp in natural pearl and flickbaits,but i would get the powerbaits over the flickbaits,i usually use flickbaits for flathead but i've caught a couple of jack on them

[chewy01]

THanks this sp jacks is off at a complete tangent to chucking hardbodys on 50lb leader to try and get them over the rocks.and hopefully not as expensive. lol

[chief 1]

no worries,hopefully you catch some good jack

[tunaticer]

I would be opting for 5" to 7" plastics on unweighted hooks for shallow rock bars. Hook them up weedless and snagging up shouldnt be a drama. I would probably be using 10lb fireline at night without a leader. Daytime i would be using 20lb jinkai about a metre long or some 20lb flurocarbon.
Dont be afraid to swim big lures for jacks and don't swim them too fast. The longer ypou can present a bait in front of a jack the more inclined he will be to smash it to get it out of its personal space. I think a lot of the time jacks arent hungry for a feed but react territorially.

Jack.

[chewy01]

Thanks guys,
holy crap ill have a heart attack fishing 10lb for them.My pb is only 52(which appears to be a midget looking at some of these awesome fish on here)but where we fish we can lose 3 or four lures in a session only landing a couple. Iv got onto a couple spots where i no they live bait pretty good ones on pretty light gear so im going to try some friendlier country

[reelemin1974]

You tried poppers for them?? You have a slightly better chance at landing them as you aren't right 'IN' the snag

[marty_z]

Have caught Jacks on a variety of sp's - but the bigger lures definitely attract the bigger fish. Faves include Gulp Fry, 5in Jerkshads and 3in Pogys. All the quality jigheads will work well on Jacks but some will suit different structure better than others. Same with leader - most mine have come from 14lb leader and 8-14lb Fireline, but if I am fishing real snaggy areas where I am confident of bigger fish I may up the leader to 20lb. Anymore that that and it starts to take the "sport" out of sportfishing

Any reasonable lure that swims straight will work, but I really think with Jacks it is more important to get the lure in the perfect spot - as close as possible to the structure, then hang on!

Marty

[the gecko]

I think the 3/5kg raider is a perfect rod weight for jacks.

The heavier leader is ok for HBs and bait, but 20lb is a good call for SPs. I find the lighter jigheads mentioned here only work in low current areas. If the current is pushing over this rockbar of yours, you may need to consider 1/4-3/8 oz . Use what ever you need to keep contact with the bottom.

Id have a good look at the worm hooks tunaticer mentioned. They are value if you are in rocky territory, otherwise you snag up and lose gear and rerig a lot. Gamakatsu make some around 5/0 size with a 1/4oz hidden wieght, these will go perfect with the 5-7in jerk shads.

I'll be up there in H Bay by next summer, you can take me out and I'll show you, lol.

cheers
Andrew

[chewy01]

Hi all,
i use the mustard 5/0 morm hooks with the weight so i might give them a try with some of these sps though am having trouble finding shrimp bigger than 3". looks like its hot this weekend so ill try round midnight fri/sat nights and see how i go. got onto a spot where a couple mates regularly live bait them round 4kg with the biggest being 6.8 not sure how long this is but im sure they will take some stopping in 8 ft of water. I can but try thanks everyone.im sure ill get into trouble.

[chewy01]

Hey guys. with the sp shrimp/prawn do i just use a normal jig head???also thanking all the above,
Reelemin yea tried poppers,bubble pops a bit but only got half a dozen small ones
Marty i like the look of the pogys they have a nice big tail so should go ok at night.

Andrew anytime you are in the bay give me a yell im always keen

[the gecko]

Normal jighead for shrimps. Go the Atomic Prong (prawn shaped sp) in Pearl Glow(pink) or white. They come in med and large size, so go the large. I think they are about 4 in. Use at least a rod length of leader, and expect to land less than 50% of hookups in that type of territory. Its heart racing stuff near rocks, but thats where the jacks are.

Worm hooks work best in large baits where the entire hook is hidden. In a shrimp, it would come out the bottom, and therefore make it swim funny. I use 1/0 worm hooks in 3 inch pogys, if Im near timber snags. It stops the hook catching on timber.

4 kg is around 60cm. 6.8kg is a monster jack......a reef fish

You caught 6 small ones on poppers. were they small jacks? well done.

Andrew

[chewy01]

Yea Andrew,
biggest was bout 44cm. Got em at baffle.The first time i went there i got 7 in four hours and kept one for tea(the last one i ate (2002)and it was full of xmas beetles so i chased them with jiggly cicadas?? next time and did ok.