How to catch Yellow jack in Florida

Yellow jack feed in 72–90°F water and bite best at 76–86°F.

25 pts · trophy at 26"Feeds 72–90°FBest 76–86°FIn season nowArtificial reefWreckChannel edgeGrass flat

About

The yellow-finned jack of the Keys and the deep flats, mistaken for a permit at distance, and the best-eating jack in Florida — raw, on the boat, with a lime.

How to fish it

Chum on the patch reefs and free-line a pilchard, or sight-cast a jig to the schools on the deep edge of the flat.

What it eats

live pilchardsjigsflies

Live bait for it

Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.

Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.