When Jako Lucas visited Texas for the first time, he knew he would make it his home. The internationally known flyfishing guide was invited to Austin by YETI in 2016.
“I serve as a brand ambassador for YETI, and they took me and my wife around Austin, and we loved it,” said Jako. “Austin people are really fantastic, and we knew that’s where we wanted to make our home.”
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jako figured out early on that he wanted to spend his life fishing. He competed in fishing tournaments in South Africa and the UK and made his living as a fishing guide. Over the last couple of decades, he has taken clients all over the globe for fly fishing adventures, from Mongolia to Norway to the Seychelles. No longer satisfied with taking just photos for his clients, he picked up a film camera along the way, and his company Captain Jack Productions was born. Now he’s producing award-winning films in some of the world’s most remote and complex fisheries.
His move to Texas connected him to the flyfishing community here, including J.T. Van Zandt, a guide on the Texas coast. J.T. helped him discover all that Texas coastal fishing has to offer.
“It seems to me that it is a beautifully kept secret. There’s some amazing fish, and giant fish, to be caught on the Texas coast.”
Jako was so enamored with the Texas coast that he began guiding there along with the international destinations his clients request.
“The Texas coast supports an incredible fishery, and I think a lot of people take it for granted. The system is healthy, and there is an abundance of fish and wildlife to appreciate. I especially love it around Port O’Connor, because there’s such a vast expanse of water and quick access to the deep waters of the Gulf where there’s some really great fishing.”
He’s in the process of building a guest house in Port O’Connor, and he, his wife, and their two Irish setters are firmly grounded in Texas.
Now, Jako is proud to join the ranks of We Will Not Be Tamed ambassadors for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. We Will Not Be Tamed calls us to appreciate the wildness of Texas, the vastness of our Texas spirit, and why we should be inspired to conserve it.
“For those of us who have been guiding for years, there comes a point when it really hits home how precious these resources are. If we don’t stand together and look after these resources, they will disappear, along with our livelihoods.”
Jako is especially pleased to be joining forces with some of his friends.
“I remember seeing We Will Not Be Tamed stories over the last few years, and many are people I consider to be friends; Rick Wittenbraker from Howler Brothers, Edgar Diaz from Sightline Provisions, J.T. Van Zandt, and Alvin Dedeaux. It’s an honor to be in their company.”
Jako is also happy to raise awareness of the need to conserve the wild things and wild places in the place he now calls home.
“I learned about Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation through We Will Not Be Tamed, and I hope others do, too. Financial support is necessary to conserve what we love, and I appreciate what is being done to support the natural resources of Texas. If we are all going to continue to enjoy the great fishing in Texas, we need look after it.”
