With the weather warming up, many anglers are looking forward to getting out on the water and catching some fish. One fish that can be caught in warmer weather is the jack crevalle. This post will give you a few tips on how to catch jack crevalle using bait.
How To Choose Fishing Bait For Jack Crevalle
The Jack Crevalle is one of the most abundant inshore gamefish in Florida. It is considered to be a weed fish because it feeds on small fishes and invertebrates that live around seagrass beds. This makes hunting them very easy because they are usually located near these grass beds.
As with any other wild animal, knowing their prey and preferred locations is important if you want to catch them.
It’s best to fish for Jack Crevalle after a storm when the water becomes murky. This means that their prey are out in the open which makes it easier for them to venture out of shallow waters where they usually reside.
Another time when these fish are more likely to be caught is during the spring. This is when they are spawning. On warmer days, you can find them in deeper waters near mangroves or rock piles.
It needs to be noted that the Jack Crevalle is not fussy about where it eats because it’s more of an opportunistic feeder rather than a picky one. It will eat just about anything it can get on its mouth.
It’s also very helpful to know the feeding habits of this game fish because you won’t have to do much research before deciding what type of bait you are going to use. Jack Crevalle are often caught by anglers with light spinning gear or fly rods using live bait.
The most commonly used live baits are triggerfish, mullet, pinfish or any type of eels. You can also use artificial lures like spoons, jigs and soft plastic worms.
When using live-bait it is best to catch your own. Live bait is more active than dead bait so you will have a higher chance of catching more fish.
Never use small baitfish that are about the same size as the Jack Crevalle because it will be very hard to catch them than if you were using larger ones. The best choices would be big mullet, yellowtail snapper or needlefish.
Before attaching bait to your line, make sure that it is fresh. This means that its gills are still red, skin intact and not slimy or smelly.
When using lures or artificials, the most popular choice are gold spoons both in 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz sizes. You can also use small jigs with plastic tails to imitate mullet fry, grunts or threadfins.
Just about anything that glows will attract a Jack Crevalle’s attention. Use glow sticks, UV light, firefly lures and any type of shiny fake lures with bright colors to get their attention.
Live bait is the most recommended but it can be hard to find so if you have trouble finding them you can use any other type of bait.
It should be noted however that live-bait will usually catch more fish than artificial lures so if you want to catch a lot of Jack Crevalle, choose this option over the other.
If you are using artificials, don’t buy cheap ones because they won’t do you any good. But if this is the only thing available to you, choose gold jigs with plastic tails.
If you want to catch large Jack Crevalle like those that weigh 10 pounds or more, it’s best to use live bait like mullet or needlefish because they offer better hook-ups than lures and will cause more damage to the fish’s mouth.
You should also check if your state has a crevalle jack or blue runner limit because they can sometimes be confused for each other. The Crevalle Jack is usually larger than the Blue Runner and its head profile will also tell you which fish you are dealing with.
Best Live Bait For Jack Crevalle
Jack crevalle are among some of the most difficult fish to catch on a hook and line. Anglers use live bait that may look too good to eat for this strong predator. In fact, it is one of the best ways to get a bite as soon as you drop your line down. Alive or dead, here are some of the best baits for jack crevalle.
1. Mullet
Mullets are considered to be among the best baits for catching jack crevalle and other related species of fish because it is easy to find at almost any time of the year, especially during its spawning periods which typically happen in the summertime. During this period, mullets have a tendency to group themselves in large amounts which makes them easier for anglers to catch. The best way to get a lot of mullet is by using cast nets which are easy to use and require less effort compared to other methods.
2. Ballyhoo
Ballyhoo is another great bait that works well for jack crevalle. Anglers typically use this bait during the summertime because it is abundant at this time of year and fishes actively in warm waters which make them easier to catch. In order to get a lot of ballyhoos, you can go for seine netting or by trolling with small to medium-sized vessels.
3. Menhaden
Menhaden are other popular baits that work great for jack crevalle. These fish are abundant in the coastal areas of Florida which makes them very easy for anglers to find. During the summer months, you can go for seine netting or trolling since these fishes move closer to the coast during this time period. You can also catch menhaden in many other areas, but it is best to use them in Florida since that is where they are abundant.
4. Pilchards
Pilchards are another great bait that work well for jack crevalle and other related fish species. Anglers typically use small to medium-sized vessels during the early spring or summertime when pilchards are abundant. If there isn’t any more pilchards available, you can start using mullet or ballyhoo to get a size that is suitable for jack crevalle.
5. Bait Fish
Another popular live bait that works well is the use of smaller fish such as anchovies and herring which can be caught in the same way as the other baits. Since they are available in different areas, you can use them as a substitute if there isn’t any of the primary baits available.
Conclusion
The next time you’re out on the water and looking to catch a Jack Crevalle, make sure to try using this bait. It just might be the perfect lure for these fish. And remember, always use caution when handling any type of fish, especially those with sharp teeth! Thanks for reading and happy fishing!