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Im sure there have been many discussions about this on the site in the past but, I'm doing this anyway. I know its not jack season at the moment but im still sycing up for christmas time. I'm heading to the Sunshine Coast, and hoping to get amongst some jack. I klnow what to do with live bait etc., but im wondering what set up do you use with lures. ie what line, leader, lures, knots etc do you use, retrival techniques etcc. Just I've heard that some fo the more popular lures, such as the gold bomber, have a built in action that is almost too strong, and that all that is really required is a homemade lure or a lure with a much lesser action, with a quick and erratic retrieve. What are your thoughts on this. Also any spots on the Sunny Coast. Maybe getting a bit too hopeful.
Cheers,
JAckash.
Asho, check out the C Lures made by Dominic Fry (fella who writes in Fishing Monthly for Sunshine Coast reports) he has a lure called a Jack Snack, its a top jack lure for around the coast as casting or retrieving.. think they are around the $14 mark
Tim
p.s. wood grain printed cardboard packaging on them
Hi Jackash,
Imo the best lures are manns stretch 10 + in grey ghost colour.They have a nice wounded bait presentation and swim alot deeper on braid.Line choice would be 7kg fireline in yellow so you can see where your lures are tracking and 7-8kg mono trace of about 2m.Put your mono leader to your briad with an albright( knot 5 turns down 5 turns back through the loop).Best rod would be an silstar power tip of 3-4 kg with an abu 5000 overhead reel. Best place on the coast for jacks is noosa river.Troll over drop offs and ledges and the deeper holes and hang on !!!
Steve
P.s jack season is all year up there at noosa
jackash, my "home ground" is the Noosa River and you could say that I have some success with the jacks up there...
The most successful lure I've used up there is a Manns Stretch 10. The colour is a bit of a secret though sorry because it's caught 95% of my jacks last season. Other lures that I've been successful with are:
Prawnstar Jnr
Reidy Little Lucifer
Gold Bomber
River2Sea Bubblepop
C Lures Jack Snack
The retrieve rates all depend on the tide, moon, time, wind, colour of your underwear. Seriously though, there is NO right way. You just keep varying your retrieve until you get a strike. I've even caught jacks on the cast and let sink method!
As for lines, I use 30lb braid, 40lb or Knotted Dog leader on a 3-5kg graphite baitcast combo. Just make sure you can dial up plenty of drag on your reel otherwise you won't stand a chance (ie: don't give a jack a metre).
Now spots, I think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone willing to give exact proven jack spots. Here's some general tips for the Noosa River though. The best spots are in the last place you'll look. Look for structure - jacks live there and shelter during fast currents. During the still times (change of tide) the bigger jacks will cruise around looking for food - look for your drop offs that are close to structure at these times. Trolling is a good way to cover ground, but it's also a great way to lose lures. You'll also miss the right areas by trolling... (I've said too much already!)
Jacks certainly are a year 'round fish, but it's extremely hard work or luck to catch one in winter.
Id be looking at braided line around the 20-30lb mark as you have to stop these fish straight up or they WILL bury you.A mono trace of 45lb is enough, tied straight to the braid through an albright knot.Reels can range, abu 5000's Calcutta 250's or anything similar will do the job on a 4-6kg rod. Lures that I have heard to have worked have been:
Killalure Flatz Rat - Try the brighter colours.
Lively Lures Mad Mullet - Lighter Colours
Reidys Little Lucifiers - Again try the brighter colours
Small Gold Bomber, deep diving - Rattles help
Thats about all i have heard which works, but make sure to hold on and dont give the jack any time after strike or you will be $15 poorer.
I've only ever got jacks on diving minnows. The lures that have worked for me are the Halco scorpion 90 (neutral) and Rattlin' Rapala (black/white). Apart from that I've seen a freind nail a nice one on an apty named 'smilin' jacks' minnow. Havent got many jacks on lure...most of the time those pesky barra just get in their way
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