Minimum jack size good protection for species

As part of the recent announcement for changes to recreational fishing rules mangrove jack will now have a minimum size limit of 35cm.

Mangrove jack will now have a minimum size limit of 35cm to protect juvenile stocks

As part of the recent announcement for changes to recreational fishing rules mangrove jack (lutjanus argentimaculatus) will now have a minimum size limit of 35cm to protect juvenile stocks.

They will also have a personal possession limit of three fish and be subject to the “at risk” vessel limits.

The introduction of a minimum size limit for jacks is ­regarded as an effective management tool for this species as unlike golden snapper, jacks less than 35cm are almost exclusively found in shallow, estuarine habitats, where barotrauma is unlikely to be a ­problem.

For this reason fishers can successfully catch and release undersized jacks with minimal risk of post release mortality.

Jacks are capable of reaching in excess of 15kg and 120cm but are rarely landed at this size due to their dogged fighting ability and the fact that they are already heading back into structure before you ­realise they are hooked.

Did you know that the mangrove jack is euryhaline meaning that it can adapt to living in pure freshwater to pure seawater similar to fish such as archer fish, scats and barramundi.

Due to the different habitats that jacks occupy they vary in colour from uniformly bright reddish-pink to olive brown.