Overview
Mangrove jack live inside timber and rock. Everything about targeting them is a compromise between casting accuracy and having enough grunt to stop a fish in two metres of water.
Juvenile and sub-adult jacks live in estuaries and creeks; as they mature they move offshore to reef systems where they grow well beyond 60 cm.
They shut down in cold water, which is why the fishery is a summer one from roughly November through April in most of their range.
Where to find them
- ▸Fallen timber and undercut banks in mangrove creeks.
- ▸Rock bars and bridge pylons in tidal rivers.
- ▸Marina pontoons and moored boats after dark.
- ▸Offshore reef structure in 20–100 m for mature fish.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: short, powerful 6'–6'6" baitcaster rated 8–15 kg.
- ▸Line: 30–50 lb braid with 40–60 lb leader, straight to the lure.
- ▸Lures: 70–100 mm shallow hard-bodies, weedless plastics, live mullet and herring.
Tips from the water
- ▸Accuracy beats distance — the first cast into a snag is the one that counts.
- ▸Never give line at the strike; drive them out of the timber immediately.
- ▸Fish the high tide when jacks push up under the mangrove roots.
Regulations
Minimum legal lengths apply in QLD, NT and WA. Check current limits.