One of the most popular sportfish around Wilderness Island. You are almost always guaranteed to catch a least a few of these on a day out. They are a notoriously dirty fighter making a good dent in most anglers tackle boxes.

Distribution within Australia is largely centered on the northern half of Australia, spreading from northern New South Wales into northern Western Australia.

As its name implies, the Mangrove Jack is commonly found in mangrove-lined estuarine systems although is known to migrate to offshore reefs in order to spawn.

As ambush predators, `Jacks’ often dwell around mangrove roots, fallen trees, rock walls, and any other snag areas where smaller prey reside for protection. For fishermen, the telltale sign of a hooked Mangrove Jack is the explosive run for cover once the bait (or lure) is taken. Many fish (and again, lures) are lost once they reach the protection of the snags as a result of their initial burst of speed.