Jigging

[martinw]

looking at various overseas posts they talk of Jigging and high speed jigging,
could some one give a brief run down on this technique.
is it like pirking for cod or shadding for pollock over wrecks?

[PanamaJack]

Hi Martin
Probably the two with the most experience of this technique on the forum that I'm aware of are Dave Irving - currently in Australia - and Les from the North East. Dave's used the technique in many parts of the Pacific and Les uses it off Kenya.

Something though I'm hopefully going to try for the first time in August to the north of Costa Rica - Pacific side.

There're certainly articles on the Shimano corporate fishing web site, where they're obviously promoting their rods, Stella reels and butterfly jigs. But as a starting point you might want to check the article under Extreme Fishing on this web site - http://www.anglers-proshop.com/index.php.

Although there're not necessarily specifically articles on technique it's sometimes worth looking at posts on the English forums of http://www.caranx.net. Some very knowledgeable guys there also.
Dave

[TomBettle]

This months Sea Angler has a reasonable article by Dave Lewis on speed jigging.
It is very much a Shimano advert, but seeing as Dave is a Shimano consultant then that's fair enough, but the content is pretty good and almost tempts me to give it a go.

Looks hard work mind, and the lures are VERY pricey.

Tom

[Happy Dude]

Hi Martin
Probably the two with the most experience of this technique on the forum that I'm aware of are Dave Irving - currently in Australia - and Les from the North East. Dave's used the technique in many parts of the Pacific and Les uses it off Kenya.


Dave

sorry dave, i'm in the south east.....of scotland....lol

i've tried the speed jigs on the wrecks off my coast and the catches aren't encouraging using the same methods we use in kenya, namely jigging and winding as fast as you can, as the fish are just too slow, even pollack, now if we had some of the coalfish they have in norway.....

i africa you fish very deep water 500 feet+ and you drop to the bottom and jig and wind as fast as you possibly can, don't worry you can't wind too fast for the likes of amberjack, GT and the big snappers.

i have caught cod and ling on the speed jigs fishing normally on the bottom, proper east coast pirking style, even better with a bit of mackerel in the assist hook

here's a ruby snapper i got last year, you can see the jig hanging out it's gob......

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/lts666/RIMG0063.jpg

heres a wee cod caught on a homemade jig with assist hook

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/lts666/lescod.jpg

[DaveIrving]

Hi Martin

The basic difference is the speed and the style the jig is moved through the water. You have the option of moving the jig through the water fast for species such as dogtooth, amberjacks, kingfish, GTs or moving it slow and close to the bottom for grouper, snapper etc. Grouper jigging is very similar to pirking for cod.

As Les says the fish in the UK are just too slow to catch a fast moving jig....however if you slow it down they will work just fine.

The links Dave has given you should provide all the info you need....but if you want any more info just ask!

Some pics attached of species we target on jigs....

Cheers

Dave

[Ravelling Tangler]

Dave
I notice Shimano are bringing out a "Trevala F" range of rods in the U.S.A. (like the existing trevalas, but with more carbon in the butt and classier, SiC rings)

Let us all know if you see any of them and how they compare to your Jigging Master. I know the old trevalas were not highly regarded by most - regarded as too soft and with no 'lock up' point for big (or to be more exact, heavy/massive) fish. "Unbreakable" yes, but a bit like the Maxximus or Fladen solid C rods

[DaveIrving]

Roger,

Have not seen them yet and heard very little feedback. Shimano jigging rods do not have a good history to date but you never know. The price is certainly more affordable than Jigging Master and the top Japanese brands.

The rods seem to be designed for smaller jigs - I love fishing deepwater jigging marks with 400gm+ jigs. The new Trevala's seem to be good up to 325gm jigs only....so are perhaps aimed more at inshore shallower water species.

I will not be buying one for the pure and simple reason I prefer custom built rods designed to suit me, rather than the off the shelf variety....unfortunately this comes at a price.

Cheers

Dave

[PanamaJack]

Couldn't resist posting this link - http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=7029344789655880463&q=jigging - showing the 'extreme' style of jigging that I know Dave Irving has been know to practice! In fact one of the Japanese gentlemen does seem to be struggling to prevent the 'early bath'.

There do appear to be a range of other jigging video clips that you can access through that 'Google' site, some of which cover the Med and Canaries.

[DaveIrving]

Hi Dave

The guy in the video is Matsutani-san......a legend in the jigging game! This extract is from his DVD fishing the Northern Marianas where he lands Dogtooth to over 100Kg.

I will have the pleasure of fishing with him in Tanzania next year.

Cheers

Dave

[PanamaJack]

I guess my tackle always conforms to IGFA regulations, just in case the 'monster' appears. To-date though have failed miserably! With the one that would have broken the long-standing 6lb line class record for Bluefish we were unable to weigh it on sensitive enough scales until the following day by which time it was 4 ounces under. C'est la vie!

But in terms of 'assist' hooks there's always that question as to their legality. Any rate here's a note that refers to the definitive IGFA ruling - http://www.demonjigs.com/igfarulingassist.htm. They didn't of course address the subject of two hooks but someone's gone on to clarify that.

[PanamaJack]

I've noticed from American publications that Shimano, presumably to complement their 'high speed' 'butterfly' system, have introduced a jigging system - Lucanus - targeting 'slower' or coldwater species. It's evidentially based on a design Japanese commercial Snapper fishermen developed.

Anyway here's the link to their site - http://www.lucanusjig.com/. Whilst I have to say it's not as well structured as some of Shimano’s sites there are links to published articles and a promotional video. (Although I can't as yet get it to play through to the end!)

Looking at posts regarding Norway these might possibly have a purpose there? The largest currently marketed is 7oz and 'Stateside stores are offering them at 18$US.
Dave

[wilky]

I fancy a crack at this - thought I would try it with an uptide rod initially. Are we better using braid - 30lb enough, and what is the deal with rigging these assist hooks?

[PanamaJack]

I fancy a crack at this - thought I would try it with an uptide rod initially. Are we better using braid - 30lb enough, and what is the deal with rigging these assist hooks?

Wilky
Whereabouts are you planning to fish?
Dave

[wilky]

Off Anglesey for pollack and Whitby for cod

[wilky]

...and its speed jigging I am referring to, not the Lucanus jigs.

[PanamaJack]

Off Anglesey for pollack and Whitby for cod

Never tried it and can only refer you to Les' comments on post 4 (page 1) of the thread.


i've tried the speed jigs on the wrecks off my coast and the catches aren't encouraging using the same methods we use in kenya, namely jigging and winding as fast as you can, as the fish are just too slow, even pollack, now if we had some of the coalfish they have in norway.....


There is an image there though that shows the effectiveness of an 'assist' hook for a Cod on a conventional jig.

[Ravelling Tangler]

I've noticed from American publications that Shimano, presumably to complement their 'high speed' 'butterfly' system, have introduced a jigging system - Lucanus - targeting 'slower' or coldwater species. It's evidentially based on a design Japanese commercial Snapper fishermen developed.

Anyway here's the link to their site - http://www.lucanusjig.com/. Whilst I have to say it's not as well structured as some of Shimano’s sites there are links to published articles and a promotional video. (Although I can't as yet get it to play through to the end!)

Looking at posts regarding Norway these might possibly have a purpose there? The largest currently marketed is 7oz and 'Stateside stores are offering them at 18$US.
Dave


I wonder if Lucanus jigs would be especially good (even better than shads, maybe ! ?) for "hopping" for Cod.
After all Cod love crustaceans, and expect to see them on the bed most of the time.

[Richard S]

I fished them in guinea , and got loads of hits , but very few hook ups . The hooks they come with seem surprisingly small . I upgraded them but there is always an issue of wrapping up with the tail / skirt . Maybe you UK guys might fair better with the smaller hooks .

I found it best to fish them with a longer softer rod , my jigging outfits we too short and stiff and gave too jerky and action , the fish seemed to prefer a lolling action rather than any speed. That was with a 250gram as I remember , jigging in about 20mts -30mts .

None of that stupid 500ft stuff for me that just hard work.

[ripplefisher]

Hi Guys,

New to this forum although i am on a few other more specialist jigging/popping forums..

I have just finished a three year contract in Madagascar - and the jigging action to be had there is dynamite - literally jig til you drop, or your back has given in..

A few fish taken on the jig by myself;

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/GTshotX.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/mitsio%20march/FirstgoodGTX.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/mitsio%20march/RedempX.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/mitsio%20march/BigGT-crouchedX.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/Mitsio%20august/P1030955X.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/Mitsio%20august/P1030805X.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/Mitsio%20august/P1030594X.jpg

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/ripplefisher/Mitsio%20august/P1030802X.jpg

The technique as most people point out is simple - an important point is, as the title would suggest, it is most efficient when the jig is being worked directly under the boat - 'vertically' in other words..

It is a technique which puts serious strain on your tackle - and to get good fish in you need top tackle - yes, the Japanese made stuff is the best - I use a Fisherman Spinoza Amberjack customised with gold cermet guides etc, and a a Smith WRC Nirai for heavier work. Looking at Shimano rods, and the comments posted - i agree that most of their rods aren't up to standard against 'real monsters' - but don't discount the 'Blue Rose' series if you are after a good quality jigging rod for foreign conditions at a better price - or look towards rods such as the Smith AMJ series.. Reels - of course the Saltiga/Stella series are the industry standard...at a cost.

Vertical jigging is a sport which can be very rewarding - yes, the costs can be pretty high, but that said, when you can catch 20-30 fish a day on this technique, then the cost justifies itself in some people's minds - you do not need to look at the very expensive jig offerings to catch fish in the tropics - short jigs such as the R2S sea rock work very well - rather put a bit more money on good quality terminals, like hooks, as it can make all the difference..!

Tight lines!

[PanamaJack]

The IGFA have recently modified their angling rules to reflect the increased use of ASSIST hooks whilst 'speed' ('vertical') jigging. It together with illustrative images is noted here - http://www.igfa.org/Fish/New-Rule-for-Assist-Hooks.aspx


Assist hooks are hooks that are attached to lures with leads typically constructed of multifilament, wire, monofilament or other similar material. Assist hooks have become wildly popular with vertical jigs and are also being increasingly used with plugs in place of traditional treble hooks.

Until recently, IGFA did not have rules that specifically addressed the use of assist hooks on lures. However, because of their increasing popularity the following rule has been created that governs their use:

Assist hooks or other such single hooks that are attached to a lure with a lead constructed of monofilament, multifilament, wire or other such material must conform to the following: When using assist hooks on any artificial lure, other than a skirted lure, the lead cannot be more than 1 ½ hook’s length and the bend of the hook may not be more than 4 inches (101 mm), whichever is less, from the closest point of attachment on the lure. Double and treble hooks may not be used as assist hooks

IGFA believes that this new language will make it easier for anglers to understand and comply with rules regarding assist hooks. In addition, it also helps facilitate their use with plugs, which are far less damaging to fish than traditional double and treble hooks.

To view the complete IGFA International Angling Rules - http://www.igfa.org/Fish/INTERNATIONAL-ANGLING-RULES.aspx


Of course if records do potentially interest you please bear in mind that virtually all of the superbraids currently sold exceed their stated breaking strains by significant margins. Make sure that you have them pre-tested in advance.

[jackfishing]

Great post ripplefisher. Nice to see some info from someone who's not just posting pictures of big fish trying to flog something aswell.
I wish I'd known more about jigging when I was in Thailand. I think most of the Andaman is fished to near extinction but at the time I only tried bait/bottom fishing, trolling and spinning.
If I get a chance next month to visit the coast I'll have a go at some speed jigging from the shore over reefs. See if it's more successful. I think theirs just a massive lack of fish though.
I would like to visit Burma bank from Ranong but it's not likely this time. Maybe next time. Got 2 sweet Alutecnos Gorilla 12's (a regular and a narrow C) just dying to be used somewhere good.