How to catch jack crevalle inshore fishing?

Question

What is the best method of catching Jack Crevalle?
I need help coming up with a method of getting the fish to come to my bait.
I frequently fish the inlet of New Smyrna Beach, FL. Recently I have noticed very good size fish right under the very dock I stand on. The water is about 7ft deep. 20"+ groupers, sheepshead and 30"+ jacks.
The problem I have is, since fishing for them directly will cause the fish to wrap my line around a piling, I just cast out and hope the fish below me find their way to the baitI have out away from the pilings where they seem to hang around, with no luck.

I am using light tackle with power pro 20lb.
I use anything from live shrimp to rapla lures and gulp soft lures.
Live shrimp catch alot of rays and catfish, which I am sick of since they both have stinging barbs.
So, how do i get them to move out from under me and go to my bait 20-30 yards out?
If anyone knows Jack Crevalle's favorite food, that would help too!
Also, how do I properly set a hook?

Answer 1

Put a live finger Mullet/Pogey under a popping cork. If that won't "call them in", nothing will.

By the way, you should purchase and learn how to cast a "cast net". Great way to get free, fresh bait.

Also, try fishing at night for them! Use a heavy duty spinner-bait,(Red-fish Magic), with a Berkley Saltwater Power Grub in "Glass Minnow". Fish that WILL NOT leave the saftey of structure tend to "go forth" and search for food at night. Using a spinnerbait/powerbait combo leaves a nice scent and "vibration" trail for them to zero-in on. Try it! It works!

Good luck! And I hope you catch a Snook, Red, or Trout before you catch a Jack! (lol)

(Jacks are considered "bycatch" for people searching for the top 5 , Reds, Trout, Snook, Flounder, Grouper.)

Answer 2

Crevalle Jack Fish

Answer 3

kastmasters, they catch everthing that swims and are easy to use u can either straight retrieve or u can pause every few reels and let them fall, or even verical jig. i have never surf fished but im sure a long cast is important and they do exactly that. i have caught almost every type of fish in my local river with this lure trout, pike, bass, and panfish. I usaually use the 1/8 oz but they come in all sizes. and i have seen ppl use them on saltwater watching the outdoor channel. also sweedish pimple spoons, daredevils, and big floating rapals cast very far and seem to be irresistable to any fish. a 12 ft rod seems way too big and pry hard to cast long distances, it might be easier to put the lure where u need it with a 7 foot rod. again i have never surf fished or fished on saltwater but the lures mentioned above catch every species where im from, aggresive and non agressive fish so they should be just as universal for saltwater

Answer 4

I have caught Jack Crevalles fishing from the shore line. I usually walk out about 50 yards to the sandbar and then cast out. I have caught many of them on squid (and shrimp). I usuaaly will put on a 1oz. weight at the bottom and a hook about 2 feet up, so it doesn't get caught on the bottom. I live just outside of Ft. Lauderdale and fish every week. I go to John Llyod State Park in Dania and have caught several Jacks...and I love the way they fight for being a smaller fish.

Answer 5

use a pencil popper or a white with red feather jig 3/4oz tipped with strip of mullet or a glass minnow! make sure to use a leader 6 to 12 inch does good for me!

Answer 6

Casting big saltwater spoons works great. The bigger the spoon the better. Works great on the surf in TX. One super fast fish when they run.I have seen them smoke a few reels.