Texas Jacks texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout Every year the number of coastal light tackle anglers more interested in fighting, rather than eating, fish increases. As the ranks of fishermen looking to tangle with brutish fighters on increasingly light tackle swells, more and more people are realizing the value of the once lowly jack crevalle. During late spring and early summer, not only are these blunt-headed fighters available in the bays and near shore waters of the Gulf, but they are joined by their hard-fighting (and great tasting) cousin - the amberjack, both of which make for great light tackle sport. “I like hard-fighting fish, and jacks certainly fight hard,” said Larry Haines, wildlife artist and proprietor of the Fly Shop in Port Isabel. “And, they're not too particular about what they hit. They are to a degree, but you'll usually find them ready to play.” South Texas fly fishing guide Capt. Brandon Shuler agrees jacks are fairly indiscriminate. “Basically, throw everything including the kitchen sink at them and hold on,” said Shuler, who operates out of Port Mansfield's Get-A-Way Adventures Lodge. “Hooking a jack is like standing on I-10 and throwing a fly into the grill of an 18 wheeler.” “My approach to both is very different, but the fighting techniques are the same,” Shuler continued. “Typically for AJs, and I only have one on fly - a large streamer. I like to go to the rigs and try to chum them to the surface using a variety of by-catch and a little bacon grease to form a good slick. When fishing for AJs I use a 12 to 14 weight rod with the biggest grain fast sinker I can get, 800 to higher. I like large 8 to 14 inch streamers in Green and white and blue, chartreuse and white on 4/0 to 6/0 hooks. Basic technique is to cast out as much line as possible and dredge it.” “For jacks (crevalle), simply look for them busting bait in the surf or on the surface,” stated Shuler. “After the initial run, I crank down the drag and just try to keep them up and away from sharks.” “The biggest difference between the two is crevalle are constantly moving and amberjacks will sit and wait until what they want comes along,” said Port O'Connor-based guide Capt. Scott Sommerlatte. “Amberjack are structure oriented fish, whereas crevalle are intelligent enough to use structure to their advantage, but are not structure-oriented. And, amberjack stay deep, while crevalle will move shallow. In fact, crevalle will use shallow water as structure in the summertime by herding baitfish from shallow to deep and feeding on them in the shallows. ” “But, both fish fight the same way,” said Sommerlatte. “They use that jack fish, which makes them fast and powerful. Then, when they decide they don't want to run anymore, they turn that broad body sideways." “For AJs, live pinfish are the best bait, hands down,” Sommerlatte advised. “Crevalle will hit just about anything, but I notice they rarely hit dead bait. Both will hit lures, but you have to be moving it really fast to get them interested.” texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout