Initial Thoughts on Gettin' Jiggie With It

[DuffyB]

I am no tuna expert, but have had some success chasing them on the surface the last few years. Being impatient and cheap, I refuse to drag all that rubber around. I know it works, but that's just not the kind of fishing I personally enjoy. So....one of my fishing buddies bought some jig setups and we started working them over the last 10 days or so. These things absolutely rock and we are still learning how to use them. Different situations we had success in:

1. Drifting into pods under birds.
2. No birds, but just one or two surfacing every once in a while.
3. Random marks on the fish finder with no other signs in place.
4. Working deep and steep dropoffs (both with and without marking fish).

Other observations/benefits:

They are not that hard to use (I got bit on my third drop ever). You can save a TON on gas. The Shimano rods are a good match for the fish (15 to 20 minute fights or less if you want to really clamp on the drag). They cost a TON less than what it would to have a good trolling spread. You still have the feel of the HUNT when you use them. You may miss some strikes, but once you really hang one, they don't come unbuttoned. They also work on stripers, blues and other species.

With these two rod setups, we have been getting at least 2 or 3 a day. Yesterday, we had six hookups. Four landed, one knot failure, one hot fish wrapped us up on a lobster pot. At one point yesterday when we were marking a TON on the bottom in 170 feet, it was JUST as exciting as seeing a large pod busting on the surface....maybe even more so because you just KNEW you were going to get tight.

Needless to say, I will be spending some money on this soon.

I will still chase them on the surface, because it is such a great challenge. But when you just want to get bit........get jiggie with it!

DuffyB

[anut]

I started with the jigging his yr as well. Only sluggos so far, are you using those butterfly jigs? You getting allot of doggies on them? I do with the sluggos.

[CornerOffice]

Doggies are part of the deal... jig faster or move spots.
I have also found keeping the jig off the bottom helps, if Im in 80' set the jig at 60'

[amarshall]

I swear on my future children this is true...

Spent the whole morning at the SWC 9/22 dragging rubber for no action.

Literally, the first drop of a butterfly jig on Saturday ever for our boat on the SWC, we hooked up with a BIG fish. Nearly took the rod right over the side. My poor father who is 57 and has been through one back surgery from commerical tuna fishing almost went in after it and nearly needed another back surgery. We were using trolling rods not set up specifically for jigging.

Lost the fish after 45 seconds of pandemonium and peeling line.

Propably more luck than skill.. but we're hooked now.

[Brad G.]

We gave it a try yesterday on the NWC and went 2 for 4 with the two fish being about 75-80 ponds. I was amazed...I got bit on the first drop and the second reel crank. It was one of the ones that the hook pulled, but hey...we boated two fish and used 20 gal of fuel all day! Can't beat that! We used the sluggos and jigheads. Got some doggies, but suggos are cheap, and some superglue helped repair a few. We seemed to get all doggies with the butterfly..just a coincedence I would think.

[e-sea-e]

we've been doing it for a few months now, its a great alternative when the fish arent showing on top.

[fishahn]

last several times out to the NWC I've noticed a lot more guys switching over to jigging. it also makes it more pleasant fishing with multiple boats, not worrying about crossing everyones spread, course etc... and yes it works just fine! and definitely doesnt hurt the fuel bill either!

[mpc]

Can you be more specific on your approach to jiggin? Are you staying at the bottom or reeling up as soon as you hit bottom? Also, I curious to know how people would rate their success under the conditions DuffyB noted below:

1. Drifting into pods under birds.
2. No birds, but just one or two surfacing every once in a while.
3. Random marks on the fish finder with no other signs in place.
4. Working deep and steep dropoffs (both with and without marking fish).

[north coast]

I think they're getting wise!

The first time I dropped a jig I hooked up in less than 15 minutes.
the next 3 trips were unbelievable, 2-3 fish every trip .

Now ,I've gone three trips without a hit!(I'm catching them every trip, just not on jigs) one of those days I jigged for a solid 8+ hours. non stop. I figured sooner or later one had to nail it . not. The fish were there , on all three of the un -sucessfull trips. I saw them. I know how to use what I'm jigging, so that's not the problem. I think that the more people that do this, the less productive it will become. anyone notice that they were all over metals the last few years , now you can't seem to buy a hit with them. anyone notice how many different "hot" lures riptide has? last year it was saltys needle, you don't hear a word about them this year.

Wonder what the next hot method will be. I've got a few ideas.

[sorry charlie]

I caught a 49'' today cod fishing. Dropping down some clams with some sexy purple teasers. They are down there. Caught him on the ridge in about 170 feet.