Thread: It's 'just' a jack...

A few years back (I wont define "few") we were trolling for kings off Fort Morgan and I ended up landing two nice jacks in a row after long fights...needless to say my "fighting" was done for the day. Forearms hurt for weeks after! Big time fun. Never ate any, back then they were referred to as blood fish.

Originally Posted by usa

JACKS !!!! When I hear that on the pier ,I'm falling all over myself to get a line out before they are gone . And I'm totally dumbfounded by those who are yelling get your lines out of the water if you do not want to waste your time with a Jack ??????
I' m also behoved when someone asks what have you got on and I excitedly tell them a Ugly and their reply is they are full of worms or I'm sorry and walk away . Maybe it's just me ,but I come to fish !

I am so there with you! I go to the pier to catch fish and I am so fine with catching a jack. When I was a kid, I bought into the term, trash-fish and I am SO sorry now for the HUNDREDS of great-tasting fish that I threw back and the thousands that I didn't catch because I accepted the terminology of other people and didn't experience things for myself.
My advice to any newbie fishermen is - Be your own man. Experience things for yourself and on your own terms. Don't let your fear of comments from others keep you from experiencing life! Years ago I started keeping fish that people said were "no good to eat". I was amazed at how good big remoras were - and Sailcats, too! Hardtails, Blues, Black Drum, Spadefish - all worthy of the dinner plate. I won't eat a ladyfish, but it's a great fish to hook into. If it got to 100 lbs, it would rival a tarpon for fighting and jumping ability.
All of this serves as a reminder to me to be supportive of my fellow fishermen and not cast negativity his way. It's HIS experience, which is so intensely personal that I'd judge myself to be out of line to question HIS experience in a negative fashion. He might be thrilled with the experience. I'm sure that people don't mean to be a buzz-kill when they express negativity, but that's a likely result.


On a related note, I've had this happen to me. It happens about once a year where some fisherman of dubious distinction (meaning I don't know anything about him) will come up to me to say something like, "You're not going to catch anything with THAT rod!" "You need a great big stout one like this one here!" It makes me question if the guy is talking about fishing rods as a metaphor. I always dismiss the guy as having personal problems, so I don't even show him my cooler to let him know how wrong he is. I bring this up as another example of people inappropriately intruding on the experiences of others for no beneficial reason. There's a HUGE difference to my way of thinking between not fishing for a species or only targeting a specific species and somebody who disparages the fish or the fisherman. Like, "You're not going to keep THAT, are you?"

Hooked up on my 1st one during a boil year before last.. he ate a 1/2lb hardtail when it hit the water. I fought that joker for 15 minutes. I would prefer a big jack over most fish for a fight. He also fed an entire sabiki brigade.

I remember being on the point at Ft. Morgan long ago fishing for flounder. My buddy and his wife showed up without gear, so I let them use some of mine. That left me with a Penn 430SS, with 4# line, on a 5' rod to use. A well meaning local nearby felt sorry for me, saying " You can't catch these fish with that rig". When I landed the second flounder ( 20+"), he began asking me questions about how to do that. I was happy to show him what little stuff was able to do.

I eat fish 4 to 5 times a week and have learned to be open minded about trying pretty much all of them. Some are better in some ways and not in others. Be open minded and try things. Jacks are fun and I have enjoyed the ones I ate. If you enjoy fighting a fish you will never complain about a jack.

From a local fb page:









I do believe he is quite satisfied with this accomplishment!

and on a topwater too, thats pretty cool

Eym, great read and I agree with you 100% ! I too just love catching fish no matter the species, not to mention eating them. If it comes of the waters, I love it ! Here's one if my favorite catches on an ultra light and 4# test mono.

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Maybe I got it up this time