OUTDOORS

18 THE SUN OUTDOORS JUNE 1, 2022

Jack crevalle, pit bulls of the sea

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

For most local anglers, jack crevalle is not a target species. That’s pretty much true for fly and spin anglers as well as those that troll the beaches and passes. Most jack crevalle are caught inshore by anglers fishing for trout, redfish and snook. Small jack crevalle are considered trash fish by many because they are caught while targeting a different species and aren’t great fighters. All that changes when a jack over 5 pounds is hooked.

The fight and tenacity of this fish usually provides a new appreciation of these “pit bulls” of the sea. During the summer months, it’s not uncommon to encounter large marauding groups of big jack crevalle along local beaches where they pursue schools of baitfish. While even “smallish” jacks can put up a feisty battle, larger members of the species are incredibly challenging. A big jack on the west coast will run about 15-20 pounds and can put up an awe-inspiring fight. It’s not uncommon for a 20-plus-pound jack crevalle to fight for 15-20 minutes. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate these tenacious marauders, and while I don’t usually target them, I never turn down a cast at a big fish.

When you encounter large schools of fish, the best choice of lures is a popper. There’s something about the disturbance on the surface that drives these fish wild. Catching them on a fly meant for tarpon is another challenge, but there’s a trick to enticing them. On numerous occasions, I have fished the edges of a school of feeding jacks only to have them inspect and turn down my flies. After a little experimenting, I found the “secret” was to toss the fly into the center of the school and to strip as fast as possible. The fact that the fly is surrounded by jacks seems to kick in competition and the fly is usually taken after only a couple of strips. Once on the line, jack crevalle make long head-shaking runs before settling into a circling pattern where they use their wide bodies to put up as much resistance as possible. The battle is usually won when the angler is able to get their heads out of the water, robbing them of much of their power. Even after an exhausting battle for the angler and the jack, they are easily revived and seem relatively unscathed by the experience.

Years ago, I encountered big jacks schooled under the Longboat Pass Bridge. They would attack a plug, popper or other noisy lure with a ferocity that was amazing, but were almost impossible to land before they cut you off on the bridge pilings. After many failed attempts, we came on the idea of tossing a hook-less "teaser” under the bridge to pull them away from the pilings and fenders. There we could present poppers and have a chance at landing them. Before long we were vying to see who would toss the teaser because it was such an incredible experience to see them explode on the plug. The same tactic can be used to lure a school of fish on the beach close to the boat for a cast. Jacks don’t have teeth, so a heavy leader isn’t necessary. Fortunately, they don’t seem to be particularly leader-shy. When one is hooked, it needs to be fought just like a tarpon or other big predator, with maximum pressure from the time of the take until they are ready to land. When they travel the beach, they are usually in large schools, while inshore they are more likely to roam in pairs or small schools. If you think jacks aren’t worth the effort, cast a popper to a school of big fish sometime and try to keep it away from them. I guarantee you’ll have a new appreciation for this species.

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN Capt. Rick Grassett with a large jack crevalle he landed while tarpon fishing off Longboat Key.

Tarpon jumping this spring

CAPT. DAVE WHITE

It feels as though summertime is just around the corner. The temperatures in the mornings are still nice and the afternoon highs aren’t what they’re going to be in a month, so we here at Anna Maria Charters are enjoying the spring influx of fish.

Tarpon are starting to show up on beaches rather nicely. I assume we’ll see more fish coming up from Boca Grande in the near future. We are using crabs and threadfin herring during our tarpon trips with great success. Once landing a fish, it’s important to take care to keep the fish in the water. A 100-pound tarpon can be 15 or 16 years old. With life spans exceeding 50 years, we try to show these animals as much respect as possible.

Inshore, the mangrove snapper are showing up well, making it easy to get a nice dinner for our clients. Also inshore, we’re getting Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, trout, jack crevalle and all of the sharks you care to fight. Offshore, the yellowtail snapper are going crazy, as well as amberjack, red grouper, mangrove snapper and the occasional blackfin tuna. American red snapper season opens for federally permitted charter boats on June 1. That will occupy most of our June and July.

We look forward to next month and hope for clear, calm weather. Good luck and tight lines!

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Tarpon should be plentiful in the coastal Gulf of Mexico this month as big schools of fish migrate along our beaches. Also look for cobia, tripletail and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal Gulf. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in and around passes and in the surf. Fishing should also be good on deep grass flats for a variety of species.

Tarpon schools will increase in size and numbers and will head offshore to spawn close to new and full moons. Set up in travel lanes along the beach at first light in the morning and cast live crabs, baitfish, DOA Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet to them. I travel well offshore along the beach in the morning to avoid disturbing schools of tarpon that may be traveling close to the beach. Once you’ve reached the area you intend to fish, ease into the beach with an electric trolling motor and set up in your spot. You can anchor or drift, depending on conditions. Give other anglers several hundred yards of space. Since fish may be moving both north and south, setting up too close to another angler may negatively affect their fishing. Tarpon fishing is very dependent on conditions and there are a lot of variables that need to come together to be successful.

Use tackle heavy enough to land them as quickly as possible. When fly fishing, I use 12-weight rods and large arbor reels capable of holding 300 yards or more of backing. I use a variety of baitfish, shrimp or crab fly patterns fished on floating fly lines. The shallower the water, the easier it is to get your fly in front of a fish when fly fishing. Stake out or anchor in travel lanes to get shots at them.

When spin fishing, I usually drift a couple of live baits under a float while we wait for tarpon schools to pass by. Blind casting with DOA Baitbusters or Swimming Mullet, if you’re in the right spot, can also be productive when fish are moving past you but not showing well on the surface. The CAL 4” Shad Tail/Swimbait with a heavy weedless hook is also a good tarpon bait, especially when sight fishing.

Snook and reds remain closed to harvest south of State Road 64 in Manatee County on the west coast of Florida, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Snook and reds are catch and release only in that zone until Sept. 1. Spotted seatrout has reopened in that zone with a three-fish-per-person bag limit and a six-fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. Full regulations and details can be viewed at myfwc.com.

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED Ryan Smith, of North Arlington, New Jersey, prepares to release a tarpon between 60-80 pounds with Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters.

SEE CAPTAINS, PAGE 20

CAPTAIN RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED Dave Reinhart, of Massachusetts, with a tarpon caught and released while fishing the coastal Gulf of Mexico with Captain Rick Grassett in a previous June.

CAPTAINS: Tarpon jumping

FROM PAGE 19

You should find snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges in the ICW near passes. You can walk the beach and sight fish them in the surf with fly or spinning tackle. Small baitfish fly patterns, CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms or DOA shrimp should all work well. The same lures and flies that work in the surf will also work well at night. Snook will congregate in passes around the new and full moons to spawn. They will usually be in deep channels in these areas. Bouncing a DOA TerrorEyz or Baitbuster in bridge channels or passes can be an effective technique in these areas.

Fishing for reds should also be good in June. Look for them over shallow grass along mangrove shorelines or around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll find them in potholes or edges of flats when the tide is low. Top water plugs will work well, especially early in the day. I like to cover water with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms to find them. Fly anglers should score with baitfish fly patterns like my Grassett Flats Minnow.

You may find Spanish mackerel, bluefish or pompano in passes or on deep grass flats this month. I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should score by drifting and casting ahead of the drift with Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks on an intermediate sink tip fly line. You’ll need to add a few inches of heavy (40- or 50-pound) fluorocarbon when toothy fish are in the mix.

In addition to tarpon, look for Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail in the coastal Gulf this month. Although none of them may be thick, I’ve encountered all of them before in June. Keep your eyes open for bird activity or “breaking” fish to find albies and mackerel. Cobia and tripletail may be found around crab trap floats; however, I’ve seen cobia swimming with tarpon schools before. Medium spinning tackle and a DOA Shrimp or CAL jig will get the job done for all of them, although your tarpon tackle would also work well for a big cobia. An 8- or 9-weight fly rod with a floating or clear sink tip fly line is adequate to catch everything except a big cobia, in which case your 12-weight tarpon fly tackle will work well.

There are lots of options in inshore waters and the coastal Gulf this month. If pulling on a 100-pound tarpon isn’t for you, fishing pressure is usually light inshore this month, so snook, reds, trout and more should also be good options.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!