Hard Body Jack Tactics by Greg Carter

Mangrove jack are the rascals of north Australian estuaries and often beat anglers at their own game. Fast and powerful short runs often give the fish an advantage when the fight is near structure. When casting at snags you have to be ready to give the fish a bit of curry in a hurry.

Mangrove jack have always been my saviour when chartering in Cairns. I don't think I ever had a disappointed customer when jacks were out on the chew. Fish between 1-2kg are prolific around the tidal reaches of our northern rivers and estuaries and are frequently caught right up into the far freshwater reaches.

Jacks are caught in northern NSW in small numbers but as you travel north along Queensland's east coast their numbers increase and they extend all the way around to the north west of WA. Any 50cm jack is an exceptional estuary specimen even though they do grow to 15kg. The larger fish usually migrate out of the estuaries when they reach 45-50cm and school up in deeper water around structure. However, trying to tackle them out of the estuary environment is a totally different story...