Rigging flesh baits for Jacks

[gogecko]

Time to chase the jacks up Coomera river and Saltwater creek. Might try dawn with a high tide at 7.30 am. Ive got a good selection of lures and will get some live herring too. Im thinking of covering all bases, so I might try some mullet flesh, as Ive read some old threads that think mullet flesh will outfish lures.

Would you rig flesh as strips on a triple gang hook? Or smaller pieces on a single hook? With a light running sinker, 5-8kg braid, with 15kg flurocarbon leader? Do you try and make the strips imitate a fish by jigging it a bit?

[Gbanger]

personally id go for single hook, minimal or no sinker, i think probably just letting it drift instead of jigging might give it a natural look

[scuttlebutt]

I'm no expert, though I've caught quite a few in Cairns with the following method -

Anchor up about ten metres in front of a decent snag, like a fallen tree or something. I use 30 pound braid with 40 pound platinum leader mostly, though have caught them on lighter gear.

Rig is a pea sized sinker to 3/0 hook. Cut strip from gut of mullet about 10cm long.

Then flick bait to the edge of the snag. Within say two metres of where you think the snag ends. Burley with mullet also if possible, and you want a medium to slowish tide run - so your bait will just slowly sink to the bottom with the berley going into the snag.

Works pretty well up here!

cheers,

steve

[88fishframe]

I get Jacks on just about anything but pilchards really slay them. They'll hit most live baits but I have found in the more fished areas that my success rate has increased since using lighter mono lines -6kg to 8kg and a flourocarbon leader of around 20lb. This has made a definite difference during daylight hours.

[stunnedmullet]

Yep gogecko, had success with either mullet strip(split poddy mullet down the middle and thread onto hook so flaps around in the current), live herring, live mullet or live prawn. Light as possible sinker straight to hook. Preferably 2/0-3/0 and always gamakstu. Depending on how sporting I am feeling at the time I have used 6kg, 8kg, 20lb braid and 50lb handline. Important to remember that when targeting Jacks you may also encounter barra.
I agree with scuttlebuts tactics.
If you aint getting snagged you aint' in the house.
The mullet

[Kiktz]

I have to say I agree with all of the above comments.
I personally like to use live baits it is just what has worked best for
me in the past. I am particial to baits though even dead livies, The lighter
the line the better your chances with a nice strong leader.
I would say 40lb pound but last year I was getting done on 60lb.
Try and see what they chew on in your area and go from there.


We wanna see some report after handing out such useful info like this too.

Best of Luck Aj

[stunnedmullet]

another

[gogecko]

Thanks guys, some good info there. I didnt know they took pillies as well. Ive heard they like bonito flesh tho. Sounds like they will take most baits, so finding the right spot and conditions may be more important.

Im interested in why lighter line would increase my chances? Is it a visibilty issue? Will the fish see the line and get spooked?

Id probably go with 30lb braid and 30lb leader. Got plenty of pea sinkers, but right to the bait, no swivel? Thats sounds unusual.

Stunedmullet, Gees, Id be into the Wild Turkey too when I get my first jack. It used to be my fav drink, til my liver played up. Now I rarely drink anything.

Yes, I hope there will be a successful report Aj. Not much pressure, huh?

[stunnedmullet]

Gogecko the Wild Turkey was not in celebration of my first jack rather just acknowledging how good life is when fishing with mates. Fish are a bonus.
Love catching jack though.
The mullet

[stunnedmullet]

maybe another

[stunnedmullet]

perhaps just one more

[Fishin_Dan]

The bycatch of this would be Bream too.....

[Pwoida]

I've never targeted jacks before so I don't really know but do you seriously need such heavy line for such small fish? I use much lighter line than that for chasing macks and tuna. I presume its so you can yank them out of the snags?

[stunnedmullet]

You presume correctly Pwoida.
Jacks being a particularly aggressive feeder, sit close to any structure be it tree, mangroves, rocks etc and wait for baitfish to swim into their attack zone. Most of the time the fight is one or lost in the first couple of feet. If you can't put enough pressure on them at that stage then your gooooooone
I still try and fish mostly 8kg or 20lb braid. The 50lb handline is just to be sure.
So if you want a rush, try live baiting for jack in amongst the snags.
the mullet

[backhoe]

Dunno if it's coincidence or not but quite a few times have fished specifically for Jacks in the Coomera with live baits (mullet, sardines, etc.) and have ended up catching them on a rod sitting out the back of the boat with a big hunk of mullet gut on (aimed at bream) while the live bait is untouched.