Jacks in the shallows!!

[pieman]

Wind was as calm as it was going to get Saturday so I hit the water around noon. Drifted the usual spots near shell and mud picked up a couple 16" trout for the deep fry. Headed in and spotted a small slick on the left flat so decided to drift it and kill a couple more minutes. Rigged a cork and a penne shrimp gulp. 2 pops later and wham! GONE in 6 seconds! Played with this beast for 10 minutes befor i could get it cloe to the boat for a look see, to my surprise it was a Jack. Looked to be about 20-25 lb easy. he saw the boat and gone again! I knew that landing him was going to be a long shot with 10# line and moving tide. 20 minutes in now and Im tired. Got him to the boat 4-5 time just to have him hit the gas everytime. 6th time to the boat I was tired and figured I would try to grap the cork andf try to net him, POP! Much respect to the Jack. Awsome fight , he knocked me out in the 6th round. I also gained a respect for the guy on Wicked Tuna on team Pin Wheel that fished by himself and landed the 500# tuna!!! Awesome Saturday afternoon !!

[reeltime]

wow Jacks so soon.

[Ibtsoom]

Jacks in the shallows!!

There fun for a few minutes till you realize what it is then for me it's a battle to get back as much line as I can before I cut him off.

[buoy37]

I can't wait until I hook my first Jack

Good post!

[Curmudgeon]

Jacks in the shallows!!

Great post!

[coachlaw]

Pound for pound, there is no stronger adversary available to those who only fish the shallow waters. I had one take me on a pirogue ride when I was a kid. A 35 lber. He dragged me almost 2 miles!

By the way, you can make these palatable, but it's a process. And you have to begin right when you land them by chopping the tail and bleeding them out.

[trophytroutman]

Great report. Fought a couple jacks before and its fun for a while.

[Gulfcoast13]

Nice report. It has been a while since I've hooked into one of those.

[pieman]

Pound for pound, there is no stronger adversary available to those who only fish the shallow waters. I had one take me on a pirogue ride when I was a kid. A 35 lber. He dragged me almost 2 miles!

By the way, you can make these palatable, but it's a process. And you have to begin right when you land them by chopping the tail and bleeding them out.

Coach i have heard that before but I made the mistake of trying to eat one of these bad boys 25 years ago as young kid out of high school. I remember thinking its has to be good to eat it looks just like beef!!!! LMAO! One taste and Jacks were off my menu for life!!!

[Robalo]

Sandy thinks anything tastes good in a courtbuillion or a gumbo!!

[TroutSupport]

I made a mistake one time and through a corky in front of a school of jack passing in front of me... 45 minutes into it... and i just wanted my corky back... schoolyard bullies! LOL... fun fish to fight on the right rod... note to self a troutrod is NOT the right rod...LOL

[scumLORD]

i've been seeing them just destroying mullet in knee deep water, mullets just flying, thinking man it's good to be on top of the food chain.

[coachlaw]

1. Chop tail, hang and bleed out.
2. Fillet, trim out darkest meat
3. Soak in milk overnight (optional)
4. Rub with Tony Chacherie's seasoning, herbs of your choice, minced garlic,and olive oil. Let it sit for a few hours refrigerated.
5. Pan sear in olive or grape seed oil OR grill and baste with garlic/olive oil/herb mix.

Try it and remember, you heard it here first.

[Tidalguide]

Did you see these in w bay?

[coachlaw]

LOL! Last year at the SLP ramp, a guy comes to the dock and is GUSHING about the TUNA that he caught by the bridge.