Mangrove Jack 101

Author: Tino

Category: Technique & strategies

Created on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 23:52

Written by Trivium

Mangrove Jack, also known as Red Snapper, Mangrove Red Snapper, Red Bream, Dog tooth Bream and Jack. 

Jack is the most well known of the Lutjanus Species... but how well known is Jack?

Jack is commonly described as a lure fisherman’s worst nightmare. Often referred to as The Red Assassin. Terrorizing anglers for a few short seconds of hit and run, and with a nice Hit of adrenalin; trauma and despair can set in leaving the angler stunned. Only able to replay the encounter over and over again seemingly lost for words. Frustration Builds.

But let us face facts, Jack really is a fisherman’s dream come true. For starters, Think of the endless ‘Shiny’, often top of the range toys.. ops i mean ‘tools’, that fill the shelves and pages of tackle stores. All there to lure the angler into that next purchase to fill the void of some justifiable niche fishing situation all in search of the elusive, the respectable, Dog Tooth Snapper.  Hence is also a tackle store’s dream come true too.

3 Forms

1.      The home invasion and abduction form is the most risky and exhilarating form. Because the Red Snapper is The Turn and Run Specialist. Includes casting and trolling lures and baits around underwater structure such as deep holes laden with hazardous fishing line cutting materials ie, car bodies, shopping trollies, natural/artificial rock bars, bridge pylons, tree branches and stumps. Anything that would put a nice roof over a fish’s head or hide along side in ambush mode. Tackle: 6-10kg+ main line preferably braid with a meter of 15-30kg mono trace. Locked Drag and any lure that reaches the desired structure. The catching part often only last a handful of seconds. High Potential for Lost Lures due to fish and snags.

2.      The rendezvous at the popular eatery, where schools of smaller bait fish can be more often seen congregating. This offers an exhilarating consistent form, due to the possibility of using lighter tackle and the higher rate of by catch caught. Includes presenting bait/lure in areas where bait fish can be seen or known to frequent on the surface, around drop offs, current/temperature/light/water clarity differences, eddies. Matching the hatch in lure/bait size will be advantageous. Lighter tackle in general is acceptable and a good drag will result in some nice strong smooth runs.

3.      The truck stop. Often associated with presenting a lure/bait in a deep hole or main creek/river channel from the shoreline and waiting for the bite. This form tends to merge with 2. As rendezvous at the popular eatery is more clearly known by the fish. 

Interesting to note that these forms might also represent different states of Mangrove Jack feeding activity, mood and aggressiveness/passiveness. Form 1. Being energy conservative feeding and general conservativeness. Form 2. Being more aggressive or proactive feeding mode and general activity. Bordering on Form 3. Moving around, travelling up or down stream, searching for new temporary home and/or feeding ground, opportunistic feeding and general leisure social time.

Now more interestingly and unknown is the possibility or probability arises that these states are influenced by the constantly changing various environmental factors. Like the season of the year and subsequent general water temperature, the barometric pressure, the breeding season and hormonal urges, the salinity and water clarity, the height of the sun, the influence of the moon, the stage and trend of the tide, the availability of food, the amount of territorial dispute, etc etc.

Anyway I hope in writing all this that others might offer a comparison or addition to their experiences in helping to gain a bigger body of General Grammar and a non contradictory recognition of the science that sport fishing is becoming.  

In short, on a day thats so hot, when sweat drips in your eyes when watching the Cricket. Get in your yak and chuck some 3-4inch lures at snags in your local creek or river and relax and enjoy the scenery, only then you’ll experience What You’ve Been Missing.
Enjoy.