caught a few in the harbor 2 years ago on a gotcha plug they were mixed in the spanish…sadly i have fished very little since then.
Pioneer 197sf
I will retrieve pic off my old phone and post it. It was a grownup.
We used to catch them in September in the 80’s right in the surf in Garden City. We would be catching blues and , boom, the jacks would come stomping in. The ones we got were like 3-4 lbs. at the biggest, but on a medium surf stick with a Hopkins lure it was nice.
I’ve caught a few up to #5 off the piers and in the surf in Myrtle the past few years.
I saw more packs of the grown 15 to 30 pounders last year than ever, hooked a couple on light gear for spanish that kicked my ass up and down. I saw them in July and August and on most days I saw them I’d see a tarpon or king as well.
I’ve seen 4 tripletail off Springmaid pier this year already but all small 2 to 5 pound fish. One small one was caught at Apache pier a few weeks back.
The ones we used to see in the harbor were huge. On slick calm days you would just see the wakes from them and every now and then a tail. They would come swim around the boat a minute if you were quiet. When they get a bait ball up it looks like one of the tuna videos you see from panama no BS. Haven’t seen that in a couple years though but it’s awesome to see.
Called them ‘Jackfish’… haven’t caught one in years.
And JACK is usually what I catch anyway… 
We had world class Jack Cravelle schooling in our harbor every day several years ago. You could spot them from 100 yards away. We would throw top-water chuggers and striper swipers to them. The best part was the initial strike. Looked like someone threw a cinder block in the water. After you hooked them it was work. I know we caught plenty over 20 pounds. They would ball up bait and just start destroying it causing quite a commotion. Watching them compete for your lure was awesome. There also used to be schools of bluefish that would come rolling down the Cooper on outgoing tide 2-3lbs That has been 30 years ago or more.
Maybe these were another jack versus Jack Crevale, but one measured 39" to the fork of its tail. And with a big head and thick shoulders, I think it would go 30#. But they are also strong when hooked.
What is a reef donkey if not a Jack Crevale? Does the amber jack run bigger?
Roger
In my opinion, the decline in the numbers of Crevalle Jacks, Spanish mackerel, and blues is due to the reduced number of baitfish. Mainly the menhaden, and then the mullet support the predators, and when their numbers decline so does the upper food chain. Fish populations such as the red drum, speckled trout and flounder can rely on other food sources to survive. I believe the numbers of menhaden have greatly declined. Hopefully, efforts can be made to ensure the health of their population.
17’ Islander,
60hp Evinrude
quote:Reef donkey is amberjack. AJ's can get over 100 lbs. There is a school of AJ's on every ledge, live bottom, and wreck in SC.
Originally posted by Ona MissionMaybe these were another jack versus Jack Crevale, but one measured 39" to the fork of its tail. And with a big head and thick shoulders, I think it would go 30#. But they are also strong when hooked.
What is a reef donkey if not a Jack Crevale? Does the amber jack run bigger?
Roger
Apache pier up on the north end of Myrtle had this jack today. #22
My nephew is about to post a pic of said fish. It’s big…You guys can argue over the weight…ha ha.
Jeez. …That’s only a 22 # fish…? It looks 40. They have no food value btw.
quote:
Originally posted by Ona MissionMaybe these were another jack versus Jack Crevale, but one measured 39" to the fork of its tail. And with a big head and thick shoulders, I think it would go 30#. But they are also strong when hooked.
What is a reef donkey if not a Jack Crevale? Does the amber jack run bigger?
Roger
Reef Donkeys are Amber Jacks - thats typically whats swimming around the reefs, and were covering up the 60 around the time you caught them. I was there a few days before and couldn’t get away from them.
quote:
Originally posted by Ona MissionThey are thick at reefs like Charleston 60. Hard to get bait past them. Plenty in 25-30# range and they fight like a train. Only problem is they don’t look good to eat with parasites. Don’t know about population in other places.
Roger
The crevalle get the worms up there just like the amberjacks do?
I remember seeing huge schools coming down the Cooper when I was driving over the old Cooper River Bridge into Charleston. Acres of them.
Don’t know about worms, but it’s blood red, and downright inedible.