Nothing gets my juices flowing like catching a nice fish on the beach.  The last couple of weeks my timing was off, when I was at the beach there was nothing out there.  Got out there about 10 minutes before sunrise, west wind & water couldn't have been flatter, like a sheet of glass.  The tide was nearing the end and the water was very low, my thoughts.........oh crap this stinks.  Not all surprised to see nothing going on, that changed but for only a few seconds.  Look to my left about 15 yds away a school of jacks was swimming in water not much deeper than my ankles, I casted and got an instant hook up, sad to say that fish got unbuttoned.  Once I got my lure back in the jacks must have been 75 yards to my right, I ran after them until I was in casting distance, success.  Using an 8' med Tsunami that fishes light the drag my tierra 3000 was singing a tune I hadn't heard in a long time, I thought I might get spooled.  Caught many a larger jack but this was as hard a fight as I ever hand, I really did not want to catch another.  Just as well as the beach went void of fish again.

Nice catch and story. Although I don`t pound the sand very much ,I agree there is something special about landing fish in the surf.

I never caught a Jack but it sounds like I should try.Do they eat sand fleas [mole crabs]. That would be my guess  why they are so shallow.

 

Also ,is that an atv in the pic.

C22

Nice catch. When stocks start to decline it is the surf fishermen that feel it first. In the time of the indians and colonists, you could walk across the water on the backs of the striped bass.

Nice catch and story. Although I don`t pound the sand very much ,I agree there is something special about landing fish in the surf.

I never caught a Jack but it sounds like I should try.Do they eat sand fleas [mole crabs]. That would be my guess  why they are so shallow.

 

Also ,is that an atv in the pic.

C22

Yes that is an ATV, I got the turtle nest checking lady to snap the pic, they check every morning.  During turtle season all beach construction must stop, it's the law.

 

Jacks can be a caught almost any where, I've caught them 150' of water offshore, and in ankle deep water too.  I don't use bait myself, sand fleas are very popular for pompano and permit, both members of the jack family.  I fish jettys and offshore as well, just something about the beach that makes them fight harder, all species really.  A boat always gives the advantage being able to chase a fish down, on the beach you use your legs.

The Jack Crevalle is not the most glamorous inshore fish but probably the hardest fighting. 

Thanks,I`m off to see the wizard for about a week.

Nice catch and story. Although I don`t pound the sand very much ,I agree there is something special about landing fish in the surf.

I never caught a Jack but it sounds like I should try.Do they eat sand fleas [mole crabs]. That would be my guess  why they are so shallow.

 

Also ,is that an atv in the pic.

C22

I use to use shrimp and cast to the backs of sand bars for them on the west coast of Florida, they fight like freight trains!!  

The Jack Crevalle is not the most glamorous inshore fish but probably the hardest fighting. 

The smallmouth of the sea