As I idled along I saw a large splash off in the distance. At first I thought It was a pelican diving on a baitfish but I looked and there were no pelicans, only a few gulls circling. As I watched I saw a couple more splashes and the gulls started diving as the water erupted into a boiling froth. Jacks! As soon as I exited the idle zone I gunned the motor full throttle and headed towards the commotion. I shut off the motor when I got reasonable close and used the trolling motor to get withing casting range.
I knew the jacks had to be pretty good size because the roving school I have encountered in this area has been running on the large size and from the size of the individual splashes I could tell these were large. I grabbed my rod that I had rigged for tarpon and cast it into the fray. I hooked up almost instantly and my rod bowed over as the fish tried to run. Unfortunatly I had the drag set a little too tight and the 20lb leader snapped. I quickly reeled in the line and grabbed my short dock and mangrove fishing rod. Not even bothering to put a tail on the bare jighead I cast it into the school of boiling jacks and again was hooked up. Unfortunatly my 10lb line was way outclassed and it too broke almost instantly leaving me with a tangled mess when the braid snapped back. I quickly reeled in the line anyway not even bothering to mess with it and grabbed my tarpon rod again. I grabbed another jig I had and quickly tied it on with a loop knot and tossed it out to another ravenous Jack. This time I loosened the drag a bit and let the fish take some line applying drag by feathering the spool with my hand.
As I fought this jack the school turned and was heading right for the boat. I reeled with abandon trying to regain line as the jack followed the school towards me. The jacks looked like a herd of thundering watermelons as they approached the Hotrod. Then they saw me and turned away, my jack leading the school. I tried to palm the spool to slow him but I swear they other jacks had to be pushing him and my line again snapped leaving me fishless rodless.
I decided to head off to my tarpon hole and deal with the jacks later if I could find them again. I arrived at my tarpon hole and rerigged my rods with fresh leader and jigs. While I was doing this the tarpon were rolling all around the boat. Once I was ready I cast to them for nearly two hours with out a single take. I headed back to the dock checking one of the local canals on the way only to find it was nearly dry.
So I continued on my way thinking I was finally skunked for the first time in over 9 months. Then I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. Birds circling in the distance over a very shallow flat. I didnt see any telltale signs of marauding jacks below but I headed over to investigate anyway. Sure enough first a couple splashes and then the water erupted again. Unfortunately for me they were upwind and I could not get within casting range so I went past them and stopped and waited to see if there for a sign of there location.
I sat for several minutes and decided it was not to be and started to troll back to the channel to head in when I saw a couple jacks hitting bait in the shallow water so I made a couple more casts with the wind at my back but they did not appear to be interested. I drifted a little farther and dropped my anchor to work out a game plan. Suddenly I noticed that the water was getting really rough in a spot that was perfectly calm moments before and it appeared to be heading towards me. I cast as far as I could towards them but they were still out of range so I quickly retrieved my lure and waited as they continued to approach. Then when I thought they were within range I casted again just yards short. So I let the jig sink to the bottom and as soon as the jacks were over it I began to work it back. Fish on! The jack immediately started running as only a jack can taking line by the yard as my drag screamed. For a minute I thought I was outclassed again as nothing I could do seemed to slow this fish at all. Finally after what seemed like 5 minutes the fish slowed down and I began to work it back to the boat. It was easily a hundred yards out. Is I regained line inch by inch the jack began its signature move the wide circle around the boat. It was still over 60 yards away when I noticed it was heading towards a crab buoy. I tried in vain to gain line quicker but to no avail and I could see that the crab buoy was moving against the current. I tried to get the fish off of the buoy line but it was wrapped. I was sure I was going to lose this fish. Fortunately it was exhausted and didnt put up much of a fight. I pulled my anchor and worked my way towards the buoy as quickly as possible as I didnt want the fish to get enough rest to start fighting again. I got to the buoy and could see the fish just below the surface, my line wrapped around the buoy line. I reached in and grabbed the jack by the tail and pulled it into the boat. I cut my leader and snapped a quick photo of the jack, measured it and returned it to the water to be caught again. This jack measured 27 inches to the fork of its tail.
No comments:
Post a Comment