Many fish along the Alabama Gulf Coast will provide any angler with a great fight, but few will match the might of the crevalle jack (otherwise known as a jack or a kingfish). While many people travel across the globe to fish for Giant Trevally (the larger cousin to the jack), we are lucky enough to find their green and yellow cousins in our local inshore waters and along the beaches.
Land-Based Crevalle Jack Fishing Tips
From land, you still have plenty of options to get on these hard-fighting fish. Some of the best surf fishing spots for crevalle jack are near local passes or land cuts, such as Perdido Pass, Little Lagoon Pass, or Mobile Pass at the tip of the Fort Morgan peninsula. Walking these areas in the summer and fall can be very productive for jacks, and you may also find yourself hooking into other species like bull redfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and many other species.
Beyond the Surface: Swimbaits & Paddle Tails
If the fish are not on the surface, another good option is to throw large swim baits or paddle tails. As they say, it’s best to match the hatch, so rig up your paddle tails around four or five inches and in bone or white color, but silver, gray, and chartreuse work well too. Other lures in that size range work well, too. However, be aware you may lose some baits to sharks and the teeth of the jacks.