We would like to introduce you to Jessica Jae, our next BD Fishing Chick.
Photo Credit: Hunter Ledbetter
BD:Where do you live?
Jessica Jae:I live on Merritt Island on the East Coast of Florida.
BD:What is your occupation?
Jessica Jae:As of right now I’m a server.
BD:What are your other hobbies?
Jessica Jae:I like to spend my free time doing pretty much ANYTHING outdoors. To be more specific, when I’m not fishing, I can be found bow fishing, frog gigging, spearfishing, lobstering, snorkeling, and I recently got more into hunting.
BD:Who or what got you into fishing?
Jessica Jae:I would have to say my childhood is what got me into fishing. Growing up I spent most my time playing outside. The house I lived in had a lake in the backyard and my girlfriends and I would always be back there fishing and throwing the cast net for fun. Catching a pile of fish in the net got us super pumped only to throw them all back. We loved it. One of my close childhood friends lived on a canal in the Banana River where we also threw the net for fun and fished off the dock. Her dad and my step dad took us offshore with them several times and we caught kingfish and mahi. She had a small Boston Whaler that we used to take out searching for fishing spots trying to catch drum and trout.
BD:How long have you been fishing?
Jessica Jae:I’ve always fished here and there throughout my entire life, but after high school is when I got more into fishing. I have met so many great captains and friends that have showed me so much more about fishing. Everyday is a new day to learn something new!
BD:What types of fishing have you done and where?
Jessica Jae:I have done a lot of fishing offshore out of Port Canaveral. I’ve caught bull reds, snook, and tarpon on live baits. I’ve trolled for kingfish, wahoo, sailfish, barracuda, cobia, mahi, jack crevalle and Spanish macs. I like to bottom fish for red snapper and amberjacks. I fished in Stuart catching snook and hand lining up giant Goliath grouper. I’ve gone fishing in Louisiana in the marsh catching redfish and black drum! I love inshore fishing lures and top water plugs for redfish, black drum, snook, tarpon, and trout. I’ve also fished freshwater catching bass, peacock bass and channel catfish.
BD:What is your favorite kind of fishing so far?
Jessica Jae:My favorite kind of fishing so far is topwater fishing because you can watch the fish bust your lure. To me it’s honestly so exhilarating to feel the thump and hook up of your fish and not to mention getting to watch it all go down!
BD:What are some future goals or plans pertaining to fishing?
Jessica Jae:Catching a permit is at the top of my list! I’ve also always have wanted to go noodling. I mean who doesn’t wanna stick their hand in a dark, random hole underwater to hand grab and pull out a giant catfish?!?! I also have a youtube channel for fishing that I would like to progress with and continue to share my passion for fishing with others.
BD:What part of fishing do you like the most?
Jessica Jae:The part I like most about fishing is that I feel like I’m in another world. Kinda like nothing else matters at all that moment. Any stress, worries, or frustration going on in the real world all goes away right when I hit the water.
BD:Tell us some of your proudest moments in fishing.. catch highlights, tournaments etc.
Jessica Jae:Fishing in LOUISIANA! Lets just start by saying my favorite part about my whole trip to Louisiana was that it was an all girls trip including our captain! I caught my first ever redfish and black drum in the marsh! I went to stuart on a trip where I was able to handline a giant goliath grouper! That was a really proud moment for me being able to do that! I wanted to give up during the fight while bringing him up but I kept pushing and pushing myself and seeing the grouper come to the top was very rewarding! Another proud moment of mine was when two of my girls and I took the boat out by ourselves nearshore and went shark fishing! We were successful and caught a few sharks! I love just fishing with the girls. I learn so much more and when we make silly mistakes, we just laugh about it.
Photo Credit: Hunter Ledbetter
BD:What other “aspects of you” would you like to portray if any?
Jessica Jae:I would really just like to continue to learn and do what I love to do, fish!
