mangrove jack land-based
Hang on tight, big mangrove jack are out and about.

Landing mangrove jack land-based

One minute you’re sitting there wondering if you’ll ever get a bite – your mind drifts away to wherever a fisho’s mind wanders – and then without warning, you’re struggling to hang on to the rod. mangrove jack land-based

This is how it usually goes for me at least, and this last session was no exception. mangrove jack land-based

I leapt to my feet in a split second, knowing I was not in control of the situation. mangrove jack land-based

The line was stretched to its absolute limit and my hand was on the spool, having set the drag to what I thought was well and truly enough.

Landing mangrove jack from a boat is hard – land based is much harder.

The fish was arching for a snag, but I just managed to muscle the fish to my side of the obstacle.

My last decent bite was about an hour prior, and while the fish put up a solid fight, I was sure this fish was a big jack and I felt the line brush past a snag.

The fish changed tactics and headed for another underwater obstruction.

A few seconds later I had the mighty red on the surface and was swiping at it with the net – it turned out to be a handsome estuary cod.

I was at full stretch, but managed to net it on the third attempt.

The fish snapped at me as I tried to remove the hook, and even though I have caught hundreds of these magnificent estuary denizens, I noticed my hands were shaking.

Wondering if I could have dead lifted the fish instead of mucking around with the net, I had a trial on the hard ground.

mangrove jack land-based
Mud crabs have been surprisingly slow thus far but will hopefully improve this month.

I didn’t even get three quarters of the fish’s weight off the ground before the line snapped where it had been compromised by the snag I’d felt during the fight.

Even though I don’t dedicate as much time to them as I used to, mangrove jack are definitely still one of my favourite fish.

Luckily there are a few of them getting around at the moment because there isn’t a whole lot else to fish for.

Normally this month I’d have a few mackerel photos to show, but not this year.

I’m sure they’re out there, however access has been a problem.

Constant wind and swell varying between scary and massive have been the norm for the past month.

As a result, no mackerel for me.

But that’s bearable when I’ve got many land-based jack options just a few minutes from my house.

Flathead have been poor for the past month and whiting equally frustrating.

Mud crabs are slow but there are enough to put a small feed together with persistence.

Surely they’ll improve this month!

Keira and I have done a few trips to the Tweed with only a few legal and plenty of little crabs.

The Brunswick River is worth a fish for school jewfish and grunter bream, and gratefully mangrove jack have been in OK numbers.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE!!!

About Gavin Dobson

Check Also

red emperor

Weather windows for red emperor and marlin

Since last month, our prayers were somewhat answered. We had a few good weather windows …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *