Species › Australia & New Zealand › Mangrove Jack

Saltwater

Mangrove Jack

Lutjanus argentimaculatus · mangrove red snapper, jack, red bream

Water temp
75–86°F
Peak season
Nov–Feb
Best light
Low light
IGFA record
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Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus JNC2123 New Caledonia.JPG)

Photo: Jean-Lou Justine · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Mangrove jack are deep-bodied, bronze-to-red snappers with a big mouth and canine teeth, ranging through the Indo-Pacific and along northern Australia from Shark Bay around to northern New South Wales. Juveniles and most estuary fish live for years among mangrove roots, rock bars, bridge pylons and fallen timber in brackish creeks before moving offshore to reefs as large adults. They are ambush predators of prawns, mullet and herring, striking hardest on warm, humid nights and around tide changes. Their explosive hit and immediate dive back into structure make them the most addictive snag-bashing target in the tropics.

Typical size2–6 lb (0.9–2.7 kg); 16–24 in in estuaries
Trophy10 lb+ in creeks; 25 lb+ offshore
Table fareExcellent — firm white fillets

Where & when

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Jacks fire up in the wet-season heat from November to March across northern Australia; southern Queensland fish peak in summer and shut down below about 70°F (21°C).

Hinchinbrook Channel, AustraliaNorth Queensland mangrove maze; premier jack and barra waterDaintree River, AustraliaTropical snag-lined river with big creek jacksNoosa River, AustraliaSouthern Queensland's best-known urban jack fishery

How to catch

Casting hardbodies at snagsFire shallow-diving minnows and surface walkers tight against mangrove roots, rock bars and fallen timber on a rising tide, then twitch and pause them in the shade. Lock the drag and strike hard; the fish has to be turned in the first second.
Live-baiting structure after darkAnchor upstream of a deep snag, bridge pylon or rock bar and drift a live mullet, herring or prawn back on a lightly weighted rig with a 4/0–6/0 hook. Warm, muggy nights around a tide change produce the biggest jacks.

Gear

Rod6–7' medium-heavy baitcast or spin, fast action
ReelBaitcaster 7:1 or 3000–4000 spinning
Line30–50 lb braid; 40–60 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

shallow-diving hardbody minnowssurface walkers and popperspaddle-tail soft plastics and vibes

Baits

live mulletlive prawnsherringfresh fish strips

Regulations

Australian state fisheries set minimum sizes and possession limits for mangrove jack, and Queensland, NSW and WA each publish their own rules; a recreational license is required in NSW and some other states. Check the state agency before you fish.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

What is the best time to catch mangrove jack?

Hot, humid summer nights, especially the build-up to a storm, with a tide change in the first few hours of darkness. Jacks also feed around the top of a daytime tide when water pushes into mangrove roots, but the biggest estuary fish are caught on live baits after dark between November and March.

Bite forecast — Mangrove Jack

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Mangrove Jack.

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