By Cory Byrnes, for Lone Star Outdoor News
The South Padre Island jetties are dominated by jacks right now, and kingfish are also showing up in smaller numbers.
Greg Kunkle Jr. and his sons, Greg Kunkle III, 12, and William Kunkle, 8, have been going to the jetties for years. Recently, they had a day to remember.
“It was fish pandemonium out there,” Greg Kunkle III said excitedly.
As soon as his lure hit the water, Kunkle III hooked up. What followed was a 20- to 30-minute battle against a fish nearly as big as he is.
“Your heart is pumping, the adrenaline, it’s just awesome,” Kunkle III said. “You get there right before sunrise, and then once it’s sunrise, like 15 minutes after, you basically cast out, and it’s just pandemonium, like everywhere. The jacks are everywhere. Since the water is so clear here, they’ll bite anything.”
William Kunkle was next.
He fired out a cast and within minutes, he was also hooked up battling one of the toughest fighting fish in the ocean.
“You’re out there for 30 minutes reeling in a 40-pound fish. They go left, they go right. It’s tough work,” he reflected.
The boys prevailed, though, and each landed a big fish.
“There were a couple of times where these boys, their feet would slip on those rocks, and as their father, I was afraid watching that happen,” Kunkle Jr. said. The elder Kunkle was also hooked up at one point, but wasn’t able to land the fish, losing it in the final 10 or 15 feet. The trio lost four others to cut lines and broken hooks.
The Kunkle family was using 4-inch soft plastics.
“Just black and white plastic lures, nothing too fancy,” Kunkle III said. “Spoons, along with Rapalas in orange, have been productive as well. Your main line should be 30-pound braid with a 40- to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader. Anything lighter and you’ll get bit or cut off pretty quickly.”
The most critical thing? Drag. Cast towards surface disturbances and keep the fish on top. Otherwise, the jetties will release your catch prematurely.
“You have to keep them on top of the water instead of the bottom, but if you put too much pressure, they’ll immediately snap the line,” William said.
Greg Kunkle III and William predict the jacks will stay active for the summer.
“Jacks are going to keep up for a little bit during the summer, and I think the kings will hit a little later,” Kunkle III said.
William has also seen reds being caught on the surf side.
“In the summer, there’s going to be jacks and a lot of reds,” William said. “You never know what can happen at the jetties. Some days it’s catfish, some days you’re hooking up on oversized reds, kingfish, bonita, mangrove snapper. It’s always an adventure. If you’re looking for an adventure, bring your kids, bring your family, and have a good time right on the rocks,” Kunkle Jr. said.
If you’re wondering where to start, Kunkle III says, “all you really need is a pole and a hook and some bait.”
