Fly Fishing For Jack Crevalle In Louisiana
Jack Crevalle are known, in some fishing circles, as a trash fish, while in others, the jack crevalle is regarded as one of the most sporting gamefish on the planet. “Jacks”, as they are called locally can be found along the entire Gulf coast and much of the southeast Atlantic coast of the US. They are voracious predators that hunt in schools and will eat just about anything that swims (and will fit in their mouths). They prefer to stay in water a little deeper than two feet, and have a tendency to always be on the move. They can be found just about anywhere with plenty of baitfish and enough water to cover their backs and are usually located by the commotion they make in the water while obliterating a school of bait. Jack crevalle will push a school of bait up against the surface of the water and “blitz” them on the surface making them an excellent target to sight fish on days when the conditions are right.
Fly Fishing Louisiana Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle are unlike any other fish in the Louisiana Marsh, and in the warmer months, Jacks can be caught on fly with some consistency. They are a transient fish that spend their time in the nearshore waters if the Gulf of Mexico. They can be here today and gone the next as they follow the biomasses of baitfish along the coast. Southeast Louisiana has a healthy population of jack crevalle most of them are on the larger side, from twenty to forty pounds. Fly fishing for jacks is markedly different from fly fishing for redfish. If redfishing was like opening a fine bottle of wine, then fly fishing for jacks is more like opening a shaken can of beer. It is chaotic, explosive, and exciting. Occasionally jacks can be caught while poling the shallow bays and shorelines while looking for red and black drum, but more often than not jacks are caught in water a little too deep to pole and alternative tactics have to be employed. Trolling motors, and sometimes even the outboard is used to get in front of an actively feeding school of jacks. Once in position, shots can be of various lengths, and the angler merely needs to get a large fly into the chaos and get it moving to get a bite
Jacks are strong, arguably the hardest fighting fish pound for pound that swims, and their body type gives them an advantage in battle. Fast powerful runs are usually followed by a circular tug of war that can last in excess of thirty minutes. Tangling with these fish is a great experience for fly anglers of all abilities and multiple fish days are not uncommon.
More Louisiana Fish Species
Black Drum
Black drum are a “slower” relative to the redfish, and can often be found and caught in the same areas as the redfish most people come to Louisiana to fly fish for.
Sheepshead
Sheepshead aren't known for their blistering runs and long fights, but the appeal of fly fishing for them is getting the bite, which can be a challenge even for experienced anglers.
Redfish
Redfish are one of the most popular inshore gamefish and the star of the show in Louisiana, which is home to the largest population of the biggest redfish in the world.