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Mangrove Jack Fishing Lures | MoTackle & Outdoors
Nigel White - Fishing Warranty Officer at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Mangrove Jack are just one of those fish that every angler should have the pleasure to target at some point in their journey - they don’t come easy but they are something special. They are a magnificent red to look at and they look equally mean! No fish in the estuaries provides the stand and deliver challenge that these fish do, it can be over in an instant so often. They are in the northern half of the country, east to west and are predominately targeted in estuarine systems, although there are some very large ones on inshore reefs. Jacks can be targeted on range of presentations like hardbodies, soft plastics, surface lures and can be easily tempted by a live bait as well with the best months to lure one out usually being October-March when the water temp is up. Each method works but you will find some lures suit particular scenarios where you find Jacks. The key to Jack fishing is being prepared, as they fight hard and it can be over in a flash if you are not ready. Baitcast is my preference for lure fishing and a Daiwa Tatula reel spooled with 30lb braid and a 40lb leader on a Tatula rod works great and will give you a good chance on most fish! |
Clayton McGuire - Boating & Fishing Specialist at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Hardbody Lures Hardbodies are a great way to fish for Mangrove Jacks and are probably my preference for an early season lure. Lures like the Bomber 14A are a time proven classic, but I generally throw around a Lucky Craft Pointer 78XD or Samaki Redic DS80 as they are suspending. Suspending bibbed lures are unreal for fishing heavy timber, bridge pylons and pontoons as you can get the lure down to the fish, twitch it in the fishes face and work an area more thoroughly. Swapping it up on water between a straight retrieve, the twitch/pause method and mix a little aggressive speed usually helps you work out what fish will respond to on the day. Soft Plastics Soft plastics are extremely versatile and really allow you to match the hatch. Eyes up off the sounder for a while will usually help work out what bait is about, if it's prawns the Crush City Imposter looks great, if its Poddie Mullet I love the Sicario by Irukanji, and lastly, if there’s a bit of surface action you can’t beat a frog like Mintoss or a Daiwa Bait Junkie Kikker Curly Big. With a soft plastic you can also work a variety of depths and situations, everything from rock bars to timber. The greatest benefit to a placcy is that you can rig them weedless, like on the Owner Flashy Swimmer. This hook is especially deadly on mangrove edges where regular hooks can be a snag a cast on mangrove roots. Weedless lures can be thrown without fear and this often will put you in areas you usually are not game to hit, but do hold fish! The trick is then getting them out of the heavy cover.
Ash Holdsworth - Fishing Purchasing Assistant at MoTackle & Outdoors Surface Lures This method has to be my favourite - not the most productive but by gosh it’s exciting. Having a bright red flash crash tackle a lure off the surface and try to take you immediately into a tree is purely addictive. Bassday Sugapens 95mm and the MMD Splash Prawn are slayers, although I don’t mind a prop bait like the Westin Twin Turbo either or the Jollip Arancini Fizzer. Surface fishing can be a bit punishing sometimes, but to get the best of your time on water low light periods are the go. “Magic Hour” (the first hour of first light and the last hour of the day) are definitely the best, but I have had them eat surface throughout the day in shady pockets under trees, under cuts, pontoons and bridges. A nice constant speed seems to work best on surface, but vary it up if the bite is tough or a spot looks super likely!
Cameron Hall - Estuarine Specialist at MoTackle & Outdoors Livebait Lastly is the unsung hero of Jack fishing, if you are getting into it and chasing a few bites, this is the way. This method is cost effective but does require a bit of prep to get fresh bait - live mullet, herring or prawns are all winners. Locate the most likely looking structure (the hardest spot to pull a fish out of) in the river and setup. This method is unreal as light drops and into the night it can be really productive. If you are in a boat, put the pick out so that your livies will float back towards the structure with the tide. BKK Offset Heavy circle in a 5/0 is great for poddies, but it’ll pay to have a few smaller sizes if the herring and prawns are smaller. Pin a livey through the back of the shoulder and drift it back, underneath a Pear Float if you want it at a particular depth, and then just kick back and wait for the fight of your life! |
John Everett - Fly Fishing Specialist at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Here at Motackle, we have now created the Motackle Mangrove Jack Essentials Pack which has some of our favourite lures, hand-picked by our very own staff, from some of the biggest and best brands in the game to target Jack's. The perfect choice when trying to decide on what lures to bring! You can find the pack in the products above! |
Matthew Townes - Mail Order Assistant Manager at MoTackle & Outdoors
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Chasing Mangrove Jack is exciting and even if you do everything right, I guarantee it will also be crushing with a few what ifs… But no estuary fish hits harder and fights grubbier. Make the most of the next few warmer months and humid days, get back into a bit of red fishing or give it a hit for the first time! - Matthew Townes |
